The return of Arrested Development to our screens has been a long time coming.

Fans of the original three seasons (the programme being cut short in its prime by Fox) will know that there’s been talk of a movie since the finale, and late last year, we officially heard that creator Mitch Hurwitz was planning something even more awesome – a fourth season, that is intended to be followed by a movie. (A movie which Hurwitz notes still hasn’t officially sold yet, but with the enormous anticipation of the new season, hopefully things are looking good on their side on the movie front.)

The first photos from the set emerged early last month, and now speaking to Vulture, Hurwitz has updated with a few more details about the new season, which he describes as ‘act one’ of the movie:

Did you end up writing these ten episodes as a farewell to the Bluths or the beginning of a new chapter?

The episodes are an outgrowth of the design of what we hope will be the movie. They precede it. They function as an act one of a movie that we all want to do, but haven’t “sold” yet. The episodes take the audience through the experiences of the characters since the family “fell apart” and how they’re brought together to deal with their new problems. I would give you a hint as to what those problems are, but, really, why rob the fans of being disappointed when they see it on Netflix.”

The new season is set to air on Netflix in Spring 2013, which really can’t come fast enough. It will reunite the entire Bluth (and, of course, Fünke) family – Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Tony Hale, Jessica Walter, and Jeffrey Tambor, with Ron Howard returning to narrate. And with the likes of Henry Winkler (Barry Zuckerkorn) and Judy Greer (Kitty Sanchez) also reprising their roles, alongside new guest star, John Slattery, things are looking brilliant.

Hurwitz comes across brilliantly in the interview, so I highly recommend reading it in full. For instance, the following is a great little snippet that is awesome not only for its reference to the multiple use of carpets, but also Hurwitz’s unparalleled skills with wordplay in the TV business.

“[M]any of the elements we’re revisiting have needed to be rebuilt or made. So some of the changes are subtle. For instance they discontinued the carpet we used in Lucille’s penthouse as well the one we cut Tobias’s moustache from. But we found a new paisley that works for both. Also the original Segway is out of production so we had to put some old pieces on a new one. But I’ve always been known for my awkward segues. If you get a chance I’d love to get a picture of you as a baby.”

There have also recently been rumblings of the ten-episode order being extended, and Hurwitz notes here that whilst the original order is just for ten episodes,

“[T]he beauty of Netflix is that we theoretically have an opportunity to provide more material for them. We’re definitely shooting some special material just for them. But their whole outlook completely mirrors the ambitions of this show.”

That will come as excellent news to everyone who’s seen and loved the first three seasons. Naturally, the more, the merrier. The new season is set to air on Netflix in the US in Spring 2013, and will be followed shortly after here in the UK, and it really can’t come fast enough.

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