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Arrested Development season 4: what we know so far
Netflix nixes rumour of 4 May premiere for cult show but evidence is piling up that its return will be spectacular
Amanda Holpuch in New York
Tuesday 1 January 2013 10.10 EST
In 2006, Arrested Development fans folded up their cut-offs, packed up their corn-ballers and waved goodbye to puppet Franklin Delano Bluth. However, these iconic symbols have not been forgotten, as the show's fame has grown exponentially since its cancellation, firmly placing it in the hallowed hall of cult TV classics.
Its rest has not been peaceful, and cast members and creators have dealt with incessant calls for the show's return. In October 2011, fans' dreams came true when it was announced at the New Yorker festival's Bluth Family Reunion that the family would be together on-screen again.
Season four of Arrested Development has been slated for a spring 2013 release. This past weekend, rumors of the exact date of the show's return surfaced online after a blog screen captured an alleged leak from the Fox publicity site that said the show will premiere 4 May.
Netflix, which will be carrying the season, which will extend to between 12 and 15 episodes, told the Guardian "that date is not accurate".
Nonetheless, since Jason Bateman teased fans with a first look at the show's set, on 7 August, each piece of information regarding the season-four premiere has whipped fans into a frenzy. From the return of the stair car to the promise that fans may have another chance to "say goodbye to these", each information leak has been met with excessive fanfare.
Here is what we know:
Lucille, George Bluth, Gob, Buster, Michael, George Michael, Maeby, Lindsay and Tobias are returning and each will be the center of an episode.
Executive producer Mitchell Hurwitz told Vulture: "The episodes are an outgrowth of the design of what we hope will be the movie. They precede it. They function as an act one of a movie that we all want to do, but haven't "sold" yet. The episodes take the audience through the experiences of the characters since the family "fell apart" and how they're brought together to deal with their new problems. I would give you a hint as to what those problems are but, really, why rob the fans of being disappointed when they see it on Netflix?"
The show's narrator, Ron Howard, will make a cameo – he shared an image of the premiere's script on Twitter.
"Very very funnyLots of lines for the narrator too!"
Howard's former Happy Days costar Henry Winkler, also known as the Bluth family lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn, tweeted a picture of himself alongside Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio). Loblaw is another Arrested Development lawyer and the author of Bob Loblaw's Law Blog.
"Oh my goodness ... What a Development !!!!!!!"
Liza Minnelli is set to return as Lucille Austero, and Mae Whitman will be back as Egg – I mean Ann – Veal. Carl Weathers will be back too, according to David Cross, who plays Tobias Funke.
Jeff Garlin – who played studio executive Mort Myers – will also return, after appearing in the final scene of the show, in which he and Maeby's pitch was turned down by Howard, playing himself, who said: "I don't see it as a series, maybe a movie." Perhaps this was a hint at the hopes of those involved with the show.
Will Arnett (Gob Bluth) said on Conan that Andy Richter will be returning on the show, though it's unclear whether his brothers will be making an appearance.
Isla Fischer, Terry Crews and apparently the main cast of Workaholics are also be doing something in season four. Mad Men's John Slattery, Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz and comedian Maria Bramford will be playing new characters.
I CANNAE WAIT.
