'I never imagined we'd do this': Portia de Rossi and the cast of Arrested Development reveal their feelings about bringing back the Bluths

PUBLISHED: 19:25 EST, 26 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:13 EST, 26 May 2013

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The much-loved cult comedy Arrested Development returns after a seven-year gap on Netlfix at 3am on 26 May.

And the cast have revealed their true feelings at the surprise resurrection of the show.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, actress Portia de Rossi, 40, admitted that she would have 'never imagined' bringing the show back to an on-demand service such as Netflix.

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Back for good? Arrested Development actress reveals her surprise at being brought back to the comedy show that was cancelled six years ago

'When we were canceled back in 2006, I would have never imagined that we would do this rival for Netflix or be a part of this kind of business model where they can release all the episodes at the same time,' she said.

Thanks to the all-new episodes being released at the same time on the service, fans of the show can 'binge-watch' the entire series, which features the same cast as before.

However, Portia, who is married to chat show queen Ellen Degeneres, 55, added: 'But a part of me knew because the cast loved the show much and loved working with each other... that I kind of figured that we would all get together again at some point to do something.'

The Bluths are back! The original cast including the likes of Jason Bateman, Michael Cera and Portia De Rossi have returned to the show, airing on Netflix from 3am on 26 May

Meanwhile, fellow cast member Michael Cera agreed, saying: 'I thought it was done for good, like most TV shows. It never occurred to me that we'd have this opportunity.'

'I always thought it would be fun to pickup where the story left off because it's such an ongoing story and that figures into that obviously. Mostly I just wanted to be around these people again.'

Michael added that the Arrested Development family reunion was 'incredible' saying: 'It's one thing to see people every now and then all apart, but to actually be getting to work with these people under the same, more or less, circumstances... I never thought I could even hope for it.'

Impressively, the entire original cast including Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Tony Hale, Portia de Rossi, David Cross and Alia Shawkat were more than happy to sign up for the revival.

Family reunion: The Arrested Development cast as they were when the show was on Fox, which ran from 2003 to 2006

The shift over to the on-demand service means that the episodes are now commercial free, and therefore average 32-minutes per episode, rather than the 21-minutes duration from earlier seasons.

Although not everyone appears to be happy with the new way in which the series can be viewed.

The NY Times writes that the series has become more character based, with longer scenes that slow down the once fast-paced nature of the show.

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But actor Tony Hale who plays Bluster Bluth on the show, remains upbeat about the return.

He said: 'The truth of it is, I would read the script and I would have no clue what was going on. That is such a testament to the faith that we have in Mitch Hurwitz,'

'We just know that he'll hand you stuff to do and you'll do it, knowing he has the whole puzzle worked out in his head. I'm looking forward to May 26 to see how it all works out.'

Media-streaming giant Netflix first announced their exclusive deal to resurrect the show, which first aired on Fox from 2003 to 2006 back in November 2011.

Arrested Development returns exclusively to Netflix on May 26.

The stars of Arrested Development talk about how it feels to be...

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I did not recognize Portia with all her plastic surgery. I honestly thought it was a different actress who was lip syncing to Portia's voice. Very strange indeed. - Windsor Townshend , Eze, 27/5/2013 20:12---------------I know what you mean! I couldn't believe it was her!!!! I was floored!

- VeronikIzabel , Ottawa, Canada, 27/5/2013 20:59

Click to rate Rating 2

I did not recognize Portia with all her plastic surgery. I honestly thought it was a different actress who was lip syncing to Portia's voice. Very strange indeed.

- Windsor Townshend , Eze, 27/5/2013 20:12

Click to rate Rating 1

Buster is my favorite!

- Vanessa Christine , Los Angeles, United States, 27/5/2013 16:42

Click to rate Rating 7

Bluster Bluth?" LOL. I am going to renew my Netflix subscription just to watch this. Good call Netflix. - Michelle Nunya , Deerfield Beach, 27/5/2013 14:26 It's Buster. That was a typo...or maybe they actually think his name is Bluster. Never know with DM.

- hnod , Nashville USA, 27/5/2013 16:24

Click to rate Rating 5

"Bluster Bluth?" LOL. I am going to renew my Netflix subscription just to watch this. Good call Netflix.

- Michelle Nunya , Deerfield Beach, 27/5/2013 14:26

Click to rate Rating 17

I can;t wait to watch it. I loved the old episodes when nobody was into it and I was so devastated when it was cancelled. Glad to see it back.

- Staci B , London, 27/5/2013 12:25

Click to rate Rating 30

I don't understand the question and I won't respond to it

- Jade , Australia, 27/5/2013 10:44

Click to rate Rating 64

Genuinely one of the best tv shows ever made. free chicken, HOOP, Sitwell,standpoor, corn baller love it

- Dr go slow , Cleveland UK, 27/5/2013 10:19

Click to rate Rating 46

I love Portia, just wish she hadn't done whatever it is she did to her face.

- Carl , Samersille, United States, 27/5/2013 09:35

Click to rate Rating 48

A great show. As an American woman living in London, I have yet to see the new episodes but I sure am looking forward to them. I talk about this show all the time to British colleagues but many of them didn't see it the first time round. They like a different sort of humor to us Americans. There is a show here that is very popular called Miranda and it is about a lady who just falls down a lot. It is not very sophisticated. They also love a lady called Sarah Millican who just tells jokes about her man leaving her and eating chocolate. Bizarre and boring. That is why I am so looking forward to sees Arrested Development. Great American humor.

- janeyBB , London-Boston, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 09:24

Click to rate Rating 18

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