by Chris Ullrich, Oct 3 2011 // 12:30 PM
Arrested Development is one of those series not really appreciated in its time. When it was on the air originally, it had rather low ratings and was cancelled by Fox after three seasons. It was a great show but sadly, a lot of people just didn’t “get it.”
Since its original run, the show has enjoyed newfound success in reruns as well as on DVD and Netflix and has attained cult status among those who appreciate great TV. There’s also been talk of a movie version of the series for years as well and now it seems those plans are finally coming to fruition.
But wait, there’s more. According to reports the show’s creator, Mitch Hurtwitz, plans to bring the Emmy-winning series back to television for 9 or 10 episodes before making movie. That’s right, a new series and a movie. Awesome.
Hurwitz didn’t say where the potential series would air but reportedly the two front runners are Netflix, which is looking for original programming, and Showtime, whose new entertainment president David Nevins used to work at Imagine TV and served as an executive producer on the original series.
Original series star Jason Bateman also confirmed the news on Twitter. “It’s true,” he posted. “We will do 10 episodes and the movie. Probably shoot them all together next summer for a release in early ’13. VERY excited!”
Pretty sure he’s not the only one.
Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Comedy · News · TV
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development, Dave Cross, Fox, Imagine Entertainment, Jason Bateman, Michael Sera, Mitch Hurwitz, Netflix, Portia de Rossi, Ron Howard, Showtime, Will Arnett
by Sebastian Suchecki, Mar 11 2011 // 7:30 AM
Those who watch NBC comedies Parks & Recreation, Community and Saturday Night Live know that some of the considered “favorites” of those shows consist of Donald Glover, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, and Aubrey Plaza. Sure, there are a few others, but now we’re getting all of these names in one place with the new indie comedy The Hand Job.
From Variety:
Hader’s wife, Maggie Carey, is set to write and make her feature directorial debut on the coming-of-age story; Plaza will star as a type-A valedictorian who’s determined to lose her virginity before leaving for college. Project does not have a start date yet, as financing is still coming together.
In addition, TV veterans Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights”) and Alia Shawkat (“Arrested Development”) have joined the ensemble, while Plaza’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” co-stars Johnny Simmons and Mae Whitman have come aboard to provide comedic support.
So as if the list of stars wasn’t enough with NBC’s top four, they’re adding two Arrested Development alumni to the mix. This could just be the indie comedy (and hopefully more) of the year.
We’re just hoping they keep the title.
Posted in: Announcements · Casting · Comedy · Indie · Movies · NBC · News
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Andy Samberg, Arrested Development, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Community, Connie Britton, Donald Glover, Johnny Simmons, Mae Whitman, Maggie Carey, Parks and Recreation, SNL, The Hand Job
by Shannon Hood, Apr 9 2010 // 9:00 AM
Dakota Fanning is all grown up and delivers an impressive performance in this bio-pic that skims the story of the origins of The Runaways. The all female rock band was a novelty in the 70′s, when founder Joan Jett (played by Kristen Stewart) was told on more than one occasion that “women don’t play electric guitar.”
Eschewing this advice, Jett strong-armed her way into meeting music producer Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), who saw a glimmer of talent and encouraged Jett to work the all-female angle of her band. The first step was finding a charismatic lead singer.
Enter Cherie (Dakota Fanning), an androgynous David Bowie enthusiast all of 15 years old. Cherie is brought into the band, sexed up a bit, and soon is growling the infamous “Cherry bomb” song, which was inspired by Cherie.
It is notable to mention that Cherie was hand picked on her look alone, actual talent seemed to be of secondary importance. Seems some things about the music industry never change, huh?
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Posted in: Biopic · Drama · Indie · Movies · Music · News · Reviews
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, bio-pic, Cherie Currie, Dakota Fanning, Floria Sigismondi, Joan Jett, Kristen Stewart, movie, Reviews, Scout Taylor-Compton, Stella Maeve, The Runaways, Twilight
by Sebastian Suchecki, Mar 15 2010 // 9:45 AM
A little while back, we brought you the first clip from the upcoming rock biopic, The Runaways, in which Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning) meet for the very first time. With the film’s release less than a month away, we’re now getting even more stuff to share, including some great clips of the rest of the band.
The film is written and directed by artist Floria Sigismondi, and covers the formation and eventual break up of one of the first all-girl rock bands. The film is sure to get the attention of a younger crowd as it teams Twilight: New Moon’s Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
Also along for the ride is Halloween’s Scout Taylor-Compton and Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat. The film looks to fall in the ranks with other great music biopics such as Almost Famous and Ray, while adding a younger appeal.
Check out four brand new clips from The Runaways after the jump, and be sure to catch the “cherry bomb” when it hit’s theaters on April 9th.
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Posted in: Biopic · Casting · Drama · Movies · Music · News · Video
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Cherie Currie, Dakota Fanning, Floria Sigismondi, Joan Jett, Kristen Stewart, Lita Ford, Movies, New Moon, Runaways, Scout Taylor-Compton, Twilight
by Cortney Zamm, Oct 5 2009 // 2:15 PM
It’s been three long, sad years since the Emmy-winning Fox TV show Arrested Development was canceled, and after months of rumor and speculation it looks like the Bluth family will be making it to the big screen after all. The Hollywood Reporter just reported that show creator Mitchell Hurwitz and show co-executive producer James Vallely are working on a script for the hugely anticipated big screen adaptation of the show. Imagine and Fox Searchlight will produce the film.
Debuting in 2003, Arrested Development focused in on the Bluths, a crazy family whose business goes sour and are left with nothing but each other. According to Hurwitz, the biggest holdup of the script being penned was getting the entire cast, including Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, David Cross, Will Arnett, Alia Shawkat, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor, committed to the film.
Scheduling conflicts are certain, as cast members Cera, Arnett, and Bateman have had incredibly successful careers since the show ended. In the meantime, Hurwitz and Vallely are working together on a new animated show on Fox titled Sit Down, Shut Up, also starring Will Arnett and Jason Bateman.
Posted in: Movies · News · Scripts · TV · TV to Movies
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development, David Cross, Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett
by Shannon Hood, Oct 5 2009 // 9:15 AM

Drew Barrymore makes an impressive directorial debut with this coming of age story set in the world of Roller Derby. This is a sports movie for women, by women, starring women. I suspect men will have little trouble enjoying it as well. Adorable Ellen Page (Juno) plays Bliss, a socially awkward teenager from Bodeen, Texas, who is thrust into the world of pageants by her mother (Marcia Gay Harden). One day while shopping in a thrift store, she sees three women skate into the store and leave some fliers about an upcoming Roller Derby.
Intrigued, she recruits her best friend Pash (Alia Shawkat of Arrested Development) to venture into Austin for the event. She is immediately captivated by the sport. She dusts off her old Barbie skates and tries out for the team. After making the team, she becomes an unlikely hero, using her small stature to weave in, out, and around her competitors. The title refers to a move the team uses when they grab her by the hand and catapult her ahead of the pack “whipping” her into position.
This movie is a blast, despite having all the sport movie clichés. Shauna Cross’s screenplay is not exactly brimming with originality. Underdog, check. Disapproving parents, check. First love, check. Climatic final match, check. However, the dynamic cast and the unusual sporting event breathe new life into the genre. Ellen Page is fantastic, and captures the insecurities of her character perfectly. A scene where she gets her heart broken takes your breath away. I actually felt like someone had punched me in the gut. You see her character harden a bit with steely resolve as she climbs the next rung on the ladder of life. The mother/daughter scenes hold a lot of emotional resonance, and were very believable.
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Posted in: Action · Comedy · Drama · Fox Searchlight · Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Alia Shawkat, Andrew Wilson, Daniel Stern, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Jimmy Fallon, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig, Marcia Gay Harden, Whip It, Zoe Bell