Arrested Development star Jason Bateman has confirmed that a big-screen version of the show is in the pipeline.

The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning US comedy ended in February 2006 after three series, but producers Mitch Hurwitz and Ron Howard are now interested in making a movie.

Bateman is quoted by E! Online as saying: "I can confirm that a round of sniffing has started. Any talk is targeting a post-strike situation, of course.

"I think, as always, that it's a question of whether the people with the money are willing to give our leader, Mitch Hurwitz, what he deserves for his participation. And I can speak for the cast when I say our fingers are crossed."

Cast members including Jeffrey Tambor have also expressed an interest in the project.

An insider said that Hurwitz does not yet have a script, but has a "good, solid understanding of what he'd like to do for the movie".