Netflix Revives Arrested Development

BEVERLY HILLS: Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine Television are set to produce all-new original episodes of Arrested Development, which was cancelled five years ago, to run exclusively on Netflix.

The show, an ensemble comedy about a dysfunctional family, aired its final episode on February 10, 2006. It now heads back into production for new episodes that are being produced exclusively for Netflix, with U.S. members able to watch instantly starting in 2013. Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Mitch Hurwitz are executive producers.

"Arrested Development is one of the finest American comedies in TV history and its return through Netflix is a perfect example of how we are working closely with studios and networks to provide consumers with entertainment they love," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer. "It’s also a perfect example of how broad and successful our relationship has become with Fox as we work together with their film, television, international and digital divisions on several exciting initiatives."

"Netflix’s bold entrance into original programming presents an exciting new opportunity for our two companies," commented Peter Levinsohn, Fox Filmed Entertainment’s president of new media and digital distribution. "Bringing a classic show back to production on new episodes exclusively for Netflix customers is a game changer, and illustrates the incredible potential the new digital landscape affords great content providers like Twentieth Century Fox Television and Imagine."

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Twentieth Century Fox TV’s chairmen, added, "We build brands at this studio which are so distinctive that audiences still clamor for them years after they go off the air. Arrested Development is a great example of that—it has stood the test of time. This innovative deal with Netflix represents a new business model that is extremely exciting and opens the door for a wide range of new collaborations."

"We also pride ourselves on breaking the rules at this studio, and after bringing back two canceled series—Family Guy and Futurama—to enormous success, we are bullish on the prospects for this brilliant series. We can’t wait to get back to work with Mitch, Ron and Brian on bringing the Bluths back to America’s living rooms," Walden and Newman continued.

Imagine Entertainment co-founders Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, "Of all the projects we’ve been involved with over the years, we probably get more questions about Mitch Hurtwitz’s brilliant Arrested Development than any other—everyone, ourselves included, seems to feel like the Bluths left the party a bit too soon. Bringing a series back from cancellation almost never happens, but then, Arrested always was about as unconventional as they get, so it seems totally appropriate that this show that broke the mold is smashing it to pieces once again."

Added Howard, "After a long hiatus, I’m dying to finally get back to the narrator’s microphone…’It’s Arrested…Development.’"