At least, this is as official an announcement as has been made so far. The big screen adaptation of “Arrested Development” has been in a constant state of rumor or conjecture for seemingly forever now. However, every word of it has only been reported via cast members through internet interviews or the like. Today, one of the big boys came down with the news, taking its status from campfire fairytale to physical presence.

“The Hollywood Reporter” revealed some details today that to my knowledge weren’t thrown about in the rumor mill. Although the show’s creator, Mitch Hurwitz, has always been spoken of regarding the writing of the script, he is co-writing it with the show’s co-executive producer, James Vallely. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, which produced the show, are producing the film alongside the Fox Searchlight label, not 20th Century Fox. Finally, it will be Hurwitz handling the directing duties and not Howard, though he’s never stepped into the director’s chair before.

Unlike the possible Friends film we reported on last week, “Arrested Development” was already a single-camera sitcom which could visually make the transition from small to big screen without too much difference. All that’s really needed is an expanded story. I think this news could get fans far more excited than anything else previously reported. Like many others, I didn’t come to the show until after its cancellation, but think it could work tremendously in the expanded format. It’s good to have an official announcement and at least put the speculation to rest.