Ever since plans for a new season of Arrested Development were formally announced a year ago, diehard fans of the show have kept an eye out for any and all details about the new episodes. The upcoming season, which will air exclusively on Netflix, has been filming since August, and its cast and crew have from time to time divulged little behind-the-scenes tidbits. Yesterday, Bradford Evans of Splitsider published a handy and comprehensive guide to what appears to be in store for the Bluth family. So what have we learned so far?
Unlike the episodes in its original three-season run, the new Arrested Development installments will not necessarily include all of the featured ensemble members together. Instead, creator Mitch Hurwitz has envisioned these new episodes as a way to catch up with each of the characters individually—the first episode, for instance, is simply titled “Michael.” They will finally come together at the end of what is rumored to be a 10 to 13 episode run. (The exact number has yet to be confirmed.)
The fourth season may not be the last. There are talks of following up with a fifth and sixth season, though the Netflix deal is geared toward moving the Bluths to the big screen in a full-length feature. That planned film has not yet been sold.
Happily, six beloved supporting characters are definitely returning: Ann Veal (Mae Whitman), Lucille Austero (Liza Minnelli), Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler), Kitty Sanchez (Judy Greer), Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio), and Mort Meyer (Jeff Garlin). Unfortunately, everyone’s favorite dumb jock and catchphrase, Steve Holt, has yet to ink a deal with the production. (You may want to join the Steve Holt Campaign.) New guest stars include Mad Men’s John Slattery, Isla Fisher, and Terry Crews in unspecified roles. A photo tweeted of Dan Harmon and Hurwitz on set arouses supsicions that the Community creator may have something to do with the new episodes as well.
And the new season could feature another very special guest star: you. For those who have always dreamed they could cha-chee-cha like a chicken alongside their favorite Arrested Development characters, there is now a contest for fans to win a special walk-on role for the upcoming season.
Finally, the plot. If you’re not worried about spoilers, you may be interested to know about some photos that were taken by someone who appears to be unaffiliated with the show. They indicated that Lucilles I and II are now officially in business together, and that the latter will, rather unexpectedly, be running for office.
To see some additional photos and obsess about other possible hints about the Bluths’ future, head over to Splitsider.
