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Arrested Development Movie Finally Gets the Go Ahead?

by Kevin Powers
November 13, 2008
Source: Collider

Ever since going off the air in 2006, there has been no shortage of rumor, excitement and confusion surrounding an "Arrested Development" feature film. At one time or another, various members of the fictitious Bluth family have hinted at the possibility, but never was there anything well-formed, such as even a script. While we still don't have anything concrete to hold in our hand, we do have an unequivocal "we're doing it... it's a go" from Jeffrey Tambor (who plays George Bluth Sr.) thanks to an interview Collider recently had with the actor at a Hellboy II DVD release party. Now if you've finished jumping out of your chair and cheering, read below for some more of what Tambor had to say.

Despite being one of the most well-received comedies, "Arrested Development" was canceled by Fox just after three seasons due to low ratings. In truth, the comedy is such a rare gem that I suppose a lot of people just didn't get it. After the shocking news came down, rumor swirled that Showtime might pick it up. Equally shocking was that creator Mitchell Hurwitz turned down the offer, saying "I had taken it as far as I felt I could as a series... I told the story I wanted to tell, and we were getting to a point where I think a lot of the actors were ready to move on... My instinct was that it was over when Fox pulled the plug... I considered continuing the show because I felt I owed that to the fans... For me, anyway, if there's a way to continue this in a form that's not weekly episodic series television, I'd be up for it." Well it seems that opportunity has finally come to pass. Tambor states that, in fact, "I just actually, this week, talked to Mitch Hurwitz, so we're doing it. When the writer calls you, and the director, and the executive producer, it's a pretty good sign."

So can fans now rest easy and sit back for the movie to finally happen? Maybe. Tambor's really assertive comments still make me wonder whether it will actually all come together. After all, it wouldn't be the first time a cast member in a potential film spoke out of turn and was a little too confident. Just this week, in fact, Kim Cattral of Sex and the City fame claimed there was definitely going to a sequel to the 2008 movie, only to have co-star Sarah Jessica Parker put the brakes on everything - "all the deals are not yet done."

So considering all the back and forth that has surrounded an "Arrested Development" film and that all we really have to go on is the call Tambor received from Hurwitz - there is no start date or related details just yet - I'm not going to get too excited at the moment. But speaking of Sex and the City, if that show can get a feature film (and maybe even a sequel), "Arrested Development" sure as hell should, too! So do you feel you're now free to celebrate, or are you still cautiously optimistic like me?

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