Jason Bateman Reveals Wild Arrested Development Movie Plan

A meta-themed Arrested Development movie was once in development, aiming to intertwine the fictional Bluth family with the filmmakers telling their story. This concept, a hallmark of the show's appeal, nearly saw the light of day.

Jason Bateman, a star of the original series, shared details about the would-be film. He explained it wouldn't be a straightforward continuation but would follow the characters on a Hollywood set. Matt Damon was reportedly considered for the role of Michael Bluth, with Dr. Phil eyed for George Sr., and Jonah Hill for George Michael. Will Ferrell was also considered to replace Will Arnett as Gob.

Interestingly, David Cross's character, Tobias Fünke, was the sole Bluth family member who would have portrayed himself, owing to his character's acting profession. Bateman indicated the movie was progressing through development stages but ultimately stalled. The Bluth family's story later concluded with a fifth season of the television series.