It was barely eight weeks ago that Jason Bateman broke the big news to us: Plans for an “Arrested Development” movie were gaining steam, and the Bluth family hoped to begin cornballing soon after the resolution of the strike.
Now, his older brother G.O.B. is breathing a sigh of relief since Hollywood is going back to work — and he’s eager to once again make magic. “Yeah, we’ve talked about it. We are currently talking about it. But not now, because you and I are talking! And that’d be ridiculous,” grinned “AD” smartass Will Arnett. “But no, we are talking about making the movie.”
The beloved show was unique not only because it was so funny, but in that all the cast members genuinely liked each other. So all indications are that the entire team — from Bateman and Arnett to Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor and Michael Cera — would return for series mastermind Mitchell Hurwitz.
The whereabouts of one key cast member, however, remain uncertain. I’m speaking, of course, about G.O.B.’s politically incorrect puppet, Franklin Delano Bluth.
“[His participation] is going to come down to Franklin’s agents, obviously; everybody’s got a price,” Arnett said with an unshakably straight face. “Is Franklin still alive? I don’t even remember what happened to him.”
After the show’s 2006 cancellation, Fox used an eBay account to auction off such memorable “AD” items as Buster’s prosthetic hand, G.O.B.’s Segway and Lucille’s dining room set. While no one seems to know whether Franklin himself was sold, his Adidas sneakers ($45), overalls ($27), shirt ($152) and Franklin Comes Alive album ($326) are long gone.
So, before the movie starts filming, Arnett hopes someone will help him locate his naked, tuneless puppet.
“He did get sold, didn’t he?” Arnett said, speculating that Franklin may have fallen victim to the show’s liquidation. “Did somebody sell him for real? That makes sense.”
“Well, I built the first one, so I’m going to have to build it again. That’s a little ‘Arrested Development’ piece of trivia,” Arnett revealed. “I made Franklin.”
Really? “No, that’s a lie,” he grinned. “How would I know how to do that?”
One thing that isn’t a lie, however, is that Arnett, Bateman and the others are now waiting for Hurwitz to write the script that will bring the Bluths to the big screen — even if it requires a CGI Franklin stand-in. “I think that we’re still a long way from the cup to the lip on this one,” he said of the “AD” flick. “But I think it’ll happen.”
February 12th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
This better happen. AD was the best TV show ever. EVER.
February 13th, 2008 at 2:31 am
and if you don’t like this wach this
February 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Oh I hope this really happens. I need a Portia fix. I’ve only seen her on Nip/Tuck a few times so I’ve only seen her on tv about 3 or 4 times since “AD” ended. I’d also love to see the girl that played Ann again. I just saw her last friday on “Ghost Whisperer”. Didn’t know if it was new or not but she’s great.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
God I can’t wait for this. Me and 20 of my friends will see this three nights in a row I reckon.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I can’t wait for this! We’ll go see this a lot!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
HUZZAH!! no but seriously, i cant fricken wait!
February 14th, 2008 at 12:04 am
This should happen! I’m so excited to see the Bluth family on screen again!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:31 am
I am so psyched about the movie coming out, but I still cannot believe the show was canceled! The AD movie will show people what they missed.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Can’t we send out an Amber Alert for Franklin?!
February 15th, 2008 at 4:05 am
GOD I hope they do this. Arrested Development was second only to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Why didn’t I hear about the auctions!?! I EASILY would have spent $46 dollars on Franklin’s overalls!!!
February 15th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
While I didn’t keep track of all items, I’m fairly certain that Franklin was not put on eBay. Back in the day, the word was that one of the cast members kept him.
I’m still waiting for the stair car to show up on eBay.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I don’t think they would have sold him. People would post on message boards about the auction, sure Franklin would have been mentioned. I heard a castmember kept it. Probably George-Michael, that little pothead.
http://www.arresteddevelopment2009.com
March 8th, 2008 at 2:14 am
There is a God
or should I say Gob
March 26th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
PLEASE MAKE THIS MOVIE!!!!! I WILL PAY 500.00 A TICKET!
THIS SHOW ENDED BEFORE IT’S TIME!