The Bluths are back in town.

After remaining in doubt for a considerable time, Netflix today announced that creator Mitchell Hurwitz and the entire series regular cast, including Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, David Cross and Alia Shawkat, have all signed on to return for a fifth season of 'Arrested Development'.

 

"In talks with Netflix we all felt that that stories about a narcissistic, erratically behaving family in the building business -- and their desperate abuses of power -- are really underrepresented on TV these days," Hurwitz said in a release from Netflix.

"I am so grateful to them and to 20th TV for making this dream of mine come true in bringing the Bluths, George Sr., Lucille and the kids; Michael, Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric, George-Michael, and who am I forgetting, oh Tiffany. Did I say Tiffany? — back to the glorious stream of life."

"Whew! I can finally answer the question… Hell yes! Warming up my uncredited narrator vocal chords. Now the only thing I will have to be coy about is all the craziness the Bluths are going to face this season," added executive producer Ron Howard.

Jason Bateman spoiled the surprise slightly by tweeting last Friday that he had signed on to a fifth season of the show but we're sure fans don't mind having that spoiled for them. 

What fans may mind is the fact that the show won't be returning until as yet unconfirmed date in 2018.

Better late than never? We'll have to see if there's still money in the banana stand when is arrives next year.