'Arrested Development' Season 5 Is 'Close,' Brian Grazer Says
It's nothing we haven't heard before, but there may be some new hope that another season of "Arrested Development" is finally, officially coming together.
That's the word from executive producer Brian Grazer, who told several outlets at the Television Critics Association winter press tour that season five of the beloved cult comedy could be happening very soon. In an interview with Deadline, Grazer seemed cautiously optimistic about finalizing a deal with Netflix for the new episodes.
"We are close," Grazer told the trade. "I think we found a way to create the compensation structure for all the actors and create a work matrix so they can still make movies and do other things and it will all integrate. So we are really close — I think within a couple of weeks at the most."
In a separate interview with TheWrap, Grazer said that the hardest part of the negotiation process was making sure all of the actors' schedules were accommodated fairly (and they received adequate financial deals). But the entire cast is definitely on board, he told the trade.
"I think we're really close to pulling it off finally," Grazer said. " ... [I]t should be happening soon."
What "close" and "soon" mean in terms of production -- not to mention a release date -- is still murky at best, however. And we're not exactly taking Grazer at his word yet, either, since he's been making similar promises for almost two years now.
What does make us optimistic is that all of the stars are still attached, as Bluth matriarch Jessica Walterpromised last fall, and that Netflix seems determined to work around everyone's busy schedules. We just hope that that doesn't mean more green screen scenes and separated story lines, which really put a damper on season four.
Stay tuned to see if Grazer has any additional updates in the days and weeks to come.