It seems that the Arrested Development movie project has become the monster that just won't go away. Despite previous rumors that the project was deader than a doornail, the film adaptation is proving more difficult to kill than Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees combined.
GQ recently caught up with Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz and actor Will Arnett (who will star in Hurwitz's new comedy show, Running Wilde this fall) when the pair revealed that a big screen adventure with the Bluths is still happening.
Hurwitz also mentioned that he and Arrested Development co-executive producer Jim Vallely had begun working on a screenplay for the adaptation and that it was "our absolute next priority" once the pair had Running Wilde up and going (no pun intended).
The biggest obstacles to the movie at this point? Getting all the cast members - the likes of which includes Jason Bateman (Paul), Michel Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and comedian David Cross (Kung Fu Panda 2) among others - back together and coordinating their work schedules so that Hurwitz and Vallely can figure out a production timeline that works.
Arrested Development went off the air in 2006 and a movie has been rumored to be in the works pretty much since. Hurwitz acknowledged as much during his GQ interview and mentioned that more recent news events would have a bearing on the screenplay in its current form. More specifically:
"We're changing some of the Bush references to Obama because we started it awhile ago. And the Bluths may not be vacationing in the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We also might have to recast the part of Uncle Mel, the former action movie star. But other than that we have a clear path."
Are fans of Arrested Development still clamoring for a movie then? Judging from my personal experience with the show's most dedicated, I'd say the answer is a definite yes. Besides, if Sex and City followers were willing to wait four years for their beloved gals to make it to the big screen in fashion, I think those that adore the ever-dysfunctional Bluths can wait a bit longer.
We'll keep you posted once additional information concerning the Arrested Development movie comes our way.