'Arrested Development:' 5 Things to Know About the Series' Potential Return

6:34 AM PDT 10/3/2011 by THR Staff

Comments

Fans are abuzz after creator Mitch Hurwitz announced a mini-season over the weekend, which was confirmed by Will Arnett and Jason Bateman online.

Over the weekend, news broke that cult series Arrested Development might return to air. The Hollywood Reporter breaks down how the story started, what the stars of the show are saying and the roadblocks that could keep it off the air.

'Arrested Development' Actor Exits Broadway's 'La Cage aux Folles'

'Arrested Development' film gets closer

'Arrested Development' Stars Confirm Plans for Show's TV Return

1. Creator Mitch Hurwitz teased the possibility of a nine or 10 "mini-season" at the New Yorker Festival on Sunday. The short-lived series starred Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor.

PHOTOS: Best and Worst TV Dads: 'Modern Family,' 'Shameless,' 'The Simpsons'

2. Bateman then confirmed the news on Twitter Sunday afternoon. "We will do 10 episodes and the movie. Probably shoot them all together next summer for a release in early '13." Arnett also confirmed the news online, writing: "I'm peeing with @batemanjason at the moment..and we can confirm that we are going to make new AD eps and a movie."

PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Will 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Whitney' or 'How to Be a Gentleman' Be Axed First?

3. There could be issues with scheduling. Arnett appears opposite Christina Applegate on NBC's Up All Night. Both Cera and Bateman have two movies in the works. Hurtwitz hinted at the festival that each episode will center around a different character from the series so that they aren't required to be on set as often.

4. Will Fox network execs greenlight it? The show has a devoted -- but small -- audience. It was canceled in 2006 after just three seasons on air, despite winning six Emmys. 20th Century Fox TV declined comment Sunday.

PHOTOS: Fall TV's 12 Most Anticipated Shows

5. A reunion or movie has been in the works for a long time. In 2008, Hurwitz and Ron Howard reportedly closed a deal for a movie from Imagine and Fox Searchlight. Bateman and Arnett helped fuel the news of this online, but the movie nhas not yet happened.