Netflix to revive Arrested Development

Netflix, the TV on demand service, has announced that it will bring back cult US comedy Arrested Development. 

 

Netflix has announced that it is to bring back cult comedy Arrested Development

 By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor

 

The online streaming service, which will launch in the UK next year, is bringing back the show for subscribers from 2013. It was originally broadcast on US channel Fox from 2003-2006.

The show about the dysfunctional Californian Bluth family won critical acclaim, six Emmy awards and a Golden Globe, but was cancelled after disappointing ratings over its three seasons.

The cast, starring Jason Bateman and Michael Cera, was already expected to reunite after creator Mitchell Hurwitz said a film was to be made and that several spin-off shows would follow.

The film director Ron Howard narrated the series, and was also its executive producers. He told the BBC in January that there was "a real desire on the creative team's part" to work on new material.

Netflix, which is America’s leading online film and TV subscription service, has announced it will launch in the UK “in early 2012”. The site claims it will offer “unlimited TV shows and films streaming instantly” to TVs and computers, but has not yet released what its launch price will be.


Other companies including Sony have also said that they would like to use their entertainment and devices networks to premiere exclusive content. Amazon has also recently started to directly commission authors. Netflix itself has also commissioned a drama, “House of Cards,” which will appear next year.