Arrested Development's Surprising Season 5 Premise/Format Revealed — It's Going To Be Part [Spoiler]!

Get ready to see the Bluth clan like you've never seen them before — and we mean that literally.

Although Netflix declined to confirm/comment, TVLine has learned exclusively that Arrested Development's long-gestating fifth season will likely have a major prequel element, with potentially half of the action unfolding in flashbacks featuring much younger versions of all the principal characters (played by different actors). [pmc_inline_gallery]

The move, which an insider notes isn't entirely set in stone, would go a long way in clearing Season 5's major scheduling hurdle (i.e. corralling the insanely busy cast at the same time) without having to resort to Season 4's polarizing standalone-character format. "More of the episodes can now include all of the original cast together, with lots of big group family scenes," says a source.

Arrested Development EP Brian Grazer hinted at a possible scheduling-related format shakeup earlier this month at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, telling reporters, "I think we found a way to create the compensation structure for all the actors and create a work matrix so they can still make movies and do other things and it will all integrate."

Grazer previously teased that Season 5 would feature 17 new episodes. Rumor has it production is slated to begin in June.