After making Arrested Development fans’ dreams come true by reviving the cult hit for a fourth season in 2013, Netflix promised a season 5 as well — at some indeterminate point in the future. Fortunately, series creator Mitch Hurwitz was a little more specific about the timeline Wednesday. He revealed during a Television Critics Association press event that a fifth season could start shooting as soon as early 2017, reports Variety.

Hold off on that celebratory drink, though, because, as Hurwitz mentioned, details are still being worked out. The scenario he described still sounds uncertain, and season 5 may not be a given. “If it does happen,” he said, “it looks like the shooting will start at the beginning of 2017.”

What is promising, though, is Hurwitz’s enthusiasm for the project. He and writers have been hard at work on a fifth season, and he shared that they are “ready to go” with “a lot of the stories.”

“It’s the thing I’m really desperate to do,” he said.

Fans are definitely equally desperate, based on the way news broke about the latest details on the series. The inquiry about season 5 came during a press tour that wasn’t even centered on Arrested Development — the focus was supposed to be fellow Netflix comedies BoJack Horseman, F Is for Family, and Lady Dynamite. Hurwitz was attending as the co-creator of Lady Dynamite.

Whether or not Arrested Development begins shooting in early 2017, it sounds like both Netflix and Hurwitz are committed to bringing more episodes to fans eventually. It can’t be easy bringing together a cast that includes the likes of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross, and Jessica Walter. It seems safe to say, at least, that we won’t have to wait seven years, like we did between seasons 3 and 4, for more of the crazy Bluth family.

Related Posts

You can now enjoy Substack on a TV, if that’s your idea of fun times

The app, which has just rolled out for Apple TV and Google TV, basically takes the video content and livestreams from the creators you already subscribe to and splashes them onto the biggest screen in your house. It is a smart, calculated move toward what the tech industry calls a "lean-back" experience. Instead of hunching over a laptop or squinting at a smartphone screen to watch a forty-minute interview or a deep-dive lecture, you can now throw it on the TV while you cook dinner, fold laundry, or just relax on the couch.

Wondering if YouTube TV is worth it? This new promo will help you decide without hurting your wallet

Typically, YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial, after which subscribers pay $82.99 per month for the streaming service. Under the new promotion, subscribers can enjoy a 10-day free trial and pay just $59.99 per month for the first two months.

Netflix’s latest move is huge for movie theaters, and fantastic for you and I

In April 2025, Sarandos previously stated that he loved theaters but thought that theatrical moviegoing is an “outmoded idea, for most people, not for everybody.” As a result, Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. ignited backlash and fears over the film industry's future.