'Arrested Development' season 5 release: 17-episode season 5 return

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Fans of the Bluth family will continue to laugh with their favorite fictional household after executive producer announced that "Arrested Development" will return for a 17-episode season five.

During the panel discussion for Brian Grazer's other hit show "Empire" during the SXSW 2015 last month, the executive producer talked about Arrested Development's future in passing.

"I love Arrested Development, but it was never a huge thing. But people are loyal to it, and we're going to do another 17 episodes. So stay tuned for Arrested Development," Grazer said.

The executive producer reiterated their plans for the cult-hit TV sitcom during his interview with Bill Simmons that was posted on YouTube, saying "People are loyal to [Arrested Development], and we're going to do another 17 episodes. So stay tuned for Arrested Development."

Though Netflix have yet to release an official statement about the show's alleged fifth season, the online streaming site head Ted Sarandos made a prediction last year that the show will return, saying that "It's just a matter of when" after someone asked him if a new season of "Arrested Development" will happen.

The series was originally aired on Fox during its first three seasons, beginning November 2, 2003 up to February 10, 2006. Though it received high praises from critics and garnered multiple Primetime Emmy Awards as well as a Golden Globe Award nod, the network decided to cancel the show because of its dwindling numbers in the ratings.

But due to its loyal cult following, Netflix agreed to pick up the series and aired new episodes since 2013.

The sitcom centers on the dysfunctional but highly comical family composed of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), his son George Michael (Michael Cera), his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), twin sister Linday (Portia de Rossi), and brothers George Oscar Bluth II (Will Arnett) and Byron Bluth (Tony Hale).

The official release date of "Arrested Development season 5" is still unannounced.