Arrested Development Creator Says a Movie Will Happen
Posted 07.22.10 by Ryan
The cult favorite TV show Arrested Development ended its final episode with show producer (and uncredited narrator) Ron Howard appearing on the show as himself and claiming that he sees the rights to the Bluth family story "as a movie," giving hope to fans of the canceled show that a movie version was in the works. That was in 2006. Since then, progress on a movie has been slow or non-existent. Series lead Jason Bateman has pleaded patience to fans on several occasions, saying production could begin on an Arrested Development movie by the end of this year. In an interview with GQ, series creator Mitchell Hurwitz revealed that a script exists and the movie is a priority.
Believe it or not, we have started the script. We're taking a little abeyance... But it is our absolute next priority and we can't wait to do it.
Hurwitz claims that only the script may need some updating.
We're changing some of the Bush references to Obama because we started it awhile ago. And the Bluths may not be vacationing in the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We also might have to recast the part of Uncle Mel, the former action movie star. But other than that we have a clear path.
Arnett joked that Hurwitz is waiting "until there's zero interest" before starting the movie, but Hurwitz says that it is out of respect for the show's fans that he hasn't mentioned the movie very often.
Believe it or not, I do not enjoy teasing our wonderful and devoted audience, which is one reason it appears that I've been so cagey about this.
No word on whether Bateman's claim of the movie starting "later this year" will come to fruition.