Is ‘Arrested Development’ coming back on Netflix? Will we see the twisted Bluth family make a return in season 6?
‘Arrested Development’ was launched in 2003. The highly acclaimed first three seasons of the show were aired on the Fox network and won the director, Mitchell D. Hurwitz, an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for three consecutive three years. After being cancelled by the network in 2006, the sitcom returned with a fourth season on Netflix in 2013, followed by another season in 2018. During its run, ‘Arrested Development‘ received considerable acclaim. It is based on the story of the highly dysfunctional Bluth family who tries to keep their corrupt family business alive in the Californian real estate market. The question that looms over the heads of the streaming giant is if it plans to make ‘Arrested Development’ again or not.
HIGHLIGHTS —
- Off-screen drama featuring the cast of ‘Arrested Development’
- David Cross’ take on season 6
- What will ‘Arrested Development’ Season 6 be about?
David Cross, who portrayed Tobias Fünke on ‘Arrested Development’, was asked about its future in an interview with “The Daily Beast”. To which he firmly replied: “It’s over. I just know.” He further acknowledged the on-set tensions, which have led up to a point where the show’s return is highly questionable.
Off-screen drama featuring the cast of ‘Arrested Development’
After a huge gap of five years, season 5 of ‘Arrested Development’ was released on Netflix. However, it wasn’t its poor reviews that caught the eye of people. It was the off-screen drama. First, there were sexual misconduct allegations against Jeffrey Tambor (George Sr.) from his former assistant, Van Barnes, and co-star Trace Lysette from the sets on Amazon’s ‘Transparent’. Despite him denying the accusations, he was fired.
Later, in an interview before the release of season 5 with “The New York Times”, one of its cast members, Jessica Walter, who plays Lucille Bluth on ‘Arrested Development’, spoke about the sexual harassment and verbal abuse allegations against Tambor. A teary-eyed Jessica Walter grabbed headlines when she talked about her harsh experience with Tambor. “Almost 60 years of working, I’ve never had anybody yell at me like that on a set.”
Making things worse were her male co-stars, who tried to cover things up by saying how common it is to have people in the industry who are “difficult”. Later, Cross, Hale, and Bateman apologized for their behaviour during the controversial interview.
David Cross’ take on season 6
When a show reaches its fifth season and grabs a cult following, it is expected to make a return in some time. Since there has been no clear announcement from its creators or Netflix, David Cross, who portrayed Tobias Fünke on ‘Arrested Development’, was asked about its future in an interview with “The Daily Beast”. To which he firmly replied: “It’s over. I just know.” He further acknowledged the on-set tensions, which have led up to a point where the show’s return is highly questionable.
He felt it is due to all the things that led up to those kinds of things becoming an issue on set. It was a difficult process for everybody, exceptionally difficult if you’re older which was not good. It wasn’t surely good for the actors too. Cross further added how during the Netflix seasons, the actors were not given scripts in advance. Sometimes, the ‘Arrested Development’ cast would receive massive re-write moments before the director called action. He felt it was a terrible way for actors to try to do what they do. There was a lot of frustrations early on. The shoot kept extending for which they were asking a lot of people, and especially older people who just don’t have the physical stamina that some younger cast and crew do. “And it led to some tensions and it was just a very bad way to work”, said Cross.
Cross mentioned how he has fonder memories of shooting the sitcom in its earlier seasons as opposed to its Netflix reboot. Though he did credit the director of ‘Arrested Development’, Mitch Hurwitz, for what he attempted to do in seasons four and five, which was really admirable, interesting, and cool.
If Netflix and the director of ‘Arrested Development’ decide to release another season, we might get to know more about the killer of Lucille Two. Though we know Buster Bluth killed her, it wasn’t revealed how or why she was killed.
What will ‘Arrested Development’ Season 6 be about?
Even though most of the looping plot was solved in its season 4 and 5, it is hard to predict what season 6 of ‘Arrested Development’ will take us through. If Netflix and the director of ‘Arrested Development’ decide to release another season, we might get to know more about the killer of Lucille Two. Though we know Buster Bluth killed her, it wasn’t revealed how or why she was killed.
We are also aware that there was a considerable gap of five years between the launch of season 4 and 5, hence we cannot completely shelve the idea of a possible season 6. Will Netflix renew ‘Arrested Development’ given its controversial cast drama? We’ll have to wait and see. What do you think?
