James R | On 06, Sep 2017

Arrested Development Season 5 is officially a go. The Bluths are getting back together for another run on Netflix, marking one of the most anticipated TV series in recent memory. Ever since the show was cancelled by Fox, fans have been eager for more, and, while its fourth run, rebooted by Netflix, was an underwhelming affair, excitement levels are still high for the Bluth family’s eventual appearance back on our screens.

So what will Season 5 be about? When will Season 5 be released? And who will be in it? We round out what we know so far about Arrested Development’s return.

It’ll be a proper reunion

Perhaps the most important thing about the new season is that it will be a proper reunion. Season 4’s disappointing lack of laughs was primarily a result of the series’ change of format, opting for longer episodes that followed one character at a time. Inserting other family members into the background of each character’s plotlines, the patchwork production model was a clever way to get around the fact that the cast weren’t available all at the same time, due to other work commitments, but it meant the hectic chemistry of the show’s first three runs was in short supply.

After that huge mistake, though, Season 5 will see the cast together much more, including Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, David Cross and Alia Shawkat.

“Because of certain limitations we had with actors’ schedules and exclusivities to other shows, and budgetary constraints, [series creator Mitch Hurwitz] had to pivot a bit off of that,” Jason Bateman said of Season 4. He’ll be back as Michael Bluth, though, along with the rest of the gang. Tony Hale (Buster) and Jesica Walter (Lucille) have now posted a Motherboy reunion photo online to prove to fans that they’ll all be back together properly.

Mother and me. #AD5 pic.twitter.com/ANwe4M5IBB

— Tony Hale (@MrTonyHale) September 5, 2017

It will span 15 episodes

The new series will run 15 episodes, with all of them arriving on Netflix in 2018. Hurwitz will serve as executive producer on the new season, alongside Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jim Vallely and Richie Rosenstock.

Someone will die

The new season will centre around a muder mystery involving Lucille 2 (Liza Minelli).

“One of the major stories is the death of Liza Minnelli’s character and who did it. It’s not a murder mystery per se, but that’s one of the central threads,” Bateman revealed to Deadline.

Production is underway

Production began on Season 5 on 8th August, with Bateman tweeting a photo of the Bluth family living room, complete with recognisable furniture.

Here comes trouble. The Bluths move back in on the 8th. pic.twitter.com/0PF7ZqkmWM

— Jason Bateman (@batemanjason) July 30, 2017

There may be more to come

Season 5 may not be the last we hear of the Bluths, with Bateman also revealing that there is a rough “three-act story” conceived of by Hurwitz.

“The first act was done on the first batch of Netflix episodes [in 2013], and we’re about to do now the second act of that story, and then the third act presumably will be done if we can all get it together at a later date, maybe in another few years,,” he commented. “We’re kind of turning into a Michael Apted Seven Up! thing.”

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