After seven years and a small case of cancellation, Arrested Development will return in two weeks.  Netflix has released the first trailer for Season 4, and the show looks as hilarious as ever.  As excited as all AD fans are, there was always the fear of “What if the show can’t meet expectations?”  I always felt that Season 3 went out on a high note, and that a fourth season could jeopardize the strong finish.  But judging by this trailer, Arrested Development fans have nothing to fear.  The weirdness, sight gags, wordplay, and more are back.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The show stars Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor, and Jessica Walter.  All 15 episodes premiere on Netflix at midnight on May 26th.

Much to the surprise and joy of every Arrested Development fan, the Emmy Award-winning comedy series following the wildly eccentric and entertainingly dysfunctional Bluth family is back with 15 new episodes debuting on Netflix on May 26^th.  After having seen the first episode, I can say that the show is as twisted and funny as ever, and feels like it hasn’t missed a beat in the seven years since the last episode aired.  From creator/writer Mitch Hurwitz, the series stars Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter.

During a recent press conference to promote the 15 new episodes, co-stars Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Alia Shawkat and Jessica Walter talked about how great it’s been to reunite with each other, the possibility of a movie still being made, what it was like to return to these roles after so many years, how often fans throw quotes at them when they’re out, how complicated the episodes were to shoot, and just how many scenes the Bluth family is in together.  Check out what they had to say after the jump, and be aware that there are some spoilers.

The first clip from the new batch of Arrested Development episodes has landed online, and it appears that the relationship between Tony Hale’s Buster and Jessica Walter’s Lucille hasn’t changed a bit.  The clip provides a tiny hint as to what Lucille has been up to since the events of the season three finale, but mainly it just showcases the series’ wonderful sense of humor that’s been sorely missing from our lives for far too long.  Additionally, Netflix has released a new batch of character posters for the new episodes that features the entire cast along with some rather familiar taglines.

Hit the jump to check out the clip and posters, and if you missed the EW covers and new images from yesterday, click here.  Netflix will release all 15 new episodes of Arrested Development at once on May 26th.

New episodes of Arrested Development are now just a month away (so close yet so far!), and in anticipation of the Bluths’ return, the show’s cast graces the covers of this week’s Entertainment Weekly.  We get a peek at everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family back together again, as three separate covers feature Gob, Michael and George Michael, Tobias, Lindsay and Maeby, and George Sr. and and Lucille respectively.  The publication has also released two new images from the upcoming batch of episodes, which show Tony Hale’s Buster returning to Army and Michael Cera’s George Michael getting his Segway on at what looks to be a college campus.

Hit the jump to check out the new images and EW covers.  15 new episodes of Arrested Development will be released at the same time on Netflix on May 26th.

The first trailer and poster for the dark comedy The Brass Teapot have been released online.  The film stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano as a young married couple who come into possession of a mysterious teapot that dispenses money whenever the owners hurt themselves.  It’s an interesting premise that plays out in a strange fashion, and I’m not exactly sure of the film’s tone based off of this trailer.  It certainly looks like it has potential, but there’s a grating emo rock song that plays throughout the second half of the trailer that’s more than a little annoying/distracting.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer and poster.  Directed by Ramaa Mosley, the film also stars Alexis Bledel, Billy Magnussen, Alia Shawkat, Bobby Moynihan, Stephen Park, and Debra Monk.  The Brass Teapot opens on April 5th.

I fully appreciate the irony of this sentence, but the fourth season of Arrested Development has paused production on the revived series’ new episodes. Though Netflix had originally ordered a ten-episode run for the comedy, creator Mitch Hurwitz ended up shooting additional footage and dreaming up enough material for more scenes and storylines. Deadline reports that Netflix agreed to expand the order to somewhere between 12 and 15 total episodes. Production has paused to allow Hurwitz to review the footage that’s already been shot and work the new arcs into the season. It will also take some time to wrangle the actors for the additional shoots, so plans are for production to start up again in late January. This should still allow time for the show’s debut in April, when Netflix plans to make all of the episodes available at once.

The 2013 Sundance Film Festival recently announced a couple batches of films that will screen at the Fest in January, and today we’ve got some first images and synopses for a few films that will be playing in competition as part of the U.S. Dramatic lineup.  Briefly

• Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes – Written and directed by Francesca Gregorini, starring Kaya Scodelario, Jessica Biel, Alfred Molina, Frances O’Connor, Jimmi Simpson, and Aneurin Barnard.
• Fruitvale – Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Ahna O’Reilly, Kevin Durand, and Chad Michael Murray.
• In a World… – Written and directed by Lake Bell, starring Bell, Demetri Martin, Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, and Fred Melamed.
• May in the Summer – Written and directed by Cherien Dabis, starring Dabis, Hiam Abbass, Bill Pullman, Alia Shawkat, Nadine Malouf, and Alexander Siddig.

Hit the jump for the images and synopses.  The 2013 Sundance Film Festival runs January 17 – 27.

Production is currently underway on a new batch of episodes of the brilliant comedy series Arrested Development, and while they won’t debut on Netflix until 2013, an official image of the reunited cast has landed online to assure fans that this is really, truly happening.  Entertainment Weekly gathered the actors together as part of their upcoming “Reunions” issue, and images of the whole cast decked out in some super fancy attire will have you yearning for those new episodes now more than ever.

Hit the jump to check out the images of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera, Jessica Walter, Tony Hale, and David Cross all back together again.  The new episodes of Arrested Development will debut on Netflix sometime in Spring 2013.

When you drive around in stairs, you’re gonna get some walk-ons.  Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz is now giving fans the chance to literally win a walk-on role on the revived series with a new contest.  Netflix, which thankfully rescued the series and will be the home to its fourth season, is offering six walk-on opportunities to creative fans who submit their original Arrested Development-related artwork by October 16th! I think I just blue myself… Hit the jump for details on how you can enter the contest, along with a message from Hurwitz and star, Michael Cera.

Opening this weekend is Julian Farino’s The Oranges. The film is about two families who are best friends and neighbors- until one of the daughters (Leighton Meester) begins an affair with her father’s best friend (Hugh Laurie), and the comical and emotional aftermath of that affair. The all-star cast includes Catherine Keener as Laurie’s wife who finds a new purpose in life, Allison Janney and Oliver Platt as Nina’s bewildered parents and Alia Shawkat as Laurie’s daughter- and Nina’s former best friend turned arch rival. It also stars Adam Brody and up-and-comer Sam Rosen.

At the recent New York City press junket, I was able to speak to Alia Shawkat and Adam Brody about their breakfast preferences, the film itself, their characters, working with an ever-present screenwriting team, and the other projects that they have been and will be working on.  Hit the jump to watch.

Since becoming an actor at age 11, Alia Shawkat has always been known for her intelligent and sarcastic characters, and this time her stint as Vanessa in Julian Farino’s The Oranges is no exception. Vanessa is the narrator of the story, and the daughter of David and Paige Walling (Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener, respectively), who’s across the street neighbors Terry and Cathy Ostroff (Oliver Platt and Allison Janney) are more like family than friends. They live in a suburban bubble that holds a comfortable, if not happy existence. When the Ostroff’s daughter Nina (Leighton Meester) returns, she and David find themselves strangely attracted to one another. The Oranges tells the story of the aftermath of their affair, and how the families must pick up the pieces and deal with the fact that though unconventional, they may need to accept being different to be happy. (Also starring Adam Brody as Vanessa’s brother Toby).

During an exclusive interview with Shawkat at the press junket for The Oranges in New York City, she talked about beating out Ellen Page for the role, what her original audition was like, scenes that got cut from original versions of the script and why she likes the current ending of the film better than the original. She also discussed her tendency toward playing “quirky” characters and the atmosphere on this close-knit set. Finally, she told me all about being back on Arrested Development, which is currently shooting another season. I got the low-down on some of the differences between film and TV, what it’s like to work with all the same people after a 6 year hiatus, and she tells me about the strangeness of watching herself and Michael Cera onscreen while sitting next to him. She also discusses her painting career, and how fans can check out some of her work and gallery shows.

In what may be the most dysfunctional family holiday film since the Griswolds took on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, a new red-band trailer for The Oranges has landed.  Directed by Julian Farnio (Entourage), The Oranges centers on two suburban families who are the best of friends and the most boring and predictable of people.  That all changes when the daughter of the Ostroffs starts an affair with the father of the Wallings.

Starring Hugh Laurie, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Adam Brody,  Alia Shawkat and Leighton Meester, The Oranges opens October 5th.  Hit the jump to check out the red-band trailer.

It looks like the Bluth family is still going to need a lawyer, as Henry Winkler is set to return to Arrested Development in the revived series which will appear on Netflix.  The movie rental company went a long way to restore good will with the public when they picked up the cult favorite for what will be the fourth season with at least ten new episodes.  Perhaps they had some legal counsel from Barry Zuckerkorn (Winkler) on how best to handle their previous faux pas.  No word yet on if Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio) will lob any law bombs.  Hit the jump for a quote from Winkler on rejoining Arrested Development. 

The debut red-band trailer for the R-rated comedy The To Do List (previously titled The Hand Job) has landed online, and it’s wonderfully filthy.  The film stars Aubrey Plaza as a sexually inexperienced teenager with a type-A personality who decides to engage in numerous sex acts before she goes to college.  The trailer is very explicit about said acts, but never veers into “too awkward to watch” territory.  Plaza is spot-on as the lead, and she’s buoyed by a ridiculously amazing supporting cast that includes Donald Glover, Rachel Bilson, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Alia Shawkat, Mae Whitman, Johnny Simmons, Connie Britton, Clark Gregg, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Scott Porter.  Seriously, this ensemble is stacked and they all look to be bringing their A-game.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer, then make your Valentine’s Day plans accordingly.  Written and directed by Maggie Carey, the film opens on February 14th, 2013.

Phase 4 has released a green band and red band trailer for That’s What She Said, a female-led comedy that premiered at Sundance.  Anne Heche, Alia Shawkat, and Marcia DeBonis star as three women in a rough patch: “Looking to turn the day around, this fearsome threesome embark on a day of misadventure that only New York City can offer.” That’s What She Said is directed by Carrie Preston, who you may know better as Arlene on True Blood.

I would like to support the mission of this movie, but the tone in the trailers is so abrasive—it looks like an unpleasant watch.  But if you are closer to the target audience, hit the jump to watch both trailers.  That’s What She Said opens on October 19.