An "Arrested Development" movie may be a priority in the eyes of former exec producer Ron Howard and creator Mitch Hurwitz, but David Cross doesn't sound confident that that's enough to make it happen.
Cross thinks the film's premise sounds "awesome" and knows that many of his former castmates want to get the cameras rolling, but as of Saturday night at the Independent Spirit Awards, he didn't expect to be playing Tobias Fünke again anytime soon.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Cross told.
Howard and company have been discussing the possibility of putting the Fox comedy on the big screen for years, but every time a wave of optimism starts gaining steam, someone comes out to express doubt. This time around, that person is Cross, and it will likely take more than a phone call from Hurwitz or Michael Cera's positive attitude to convince him that the "Arrested Development" movie will ever exist.
"Not even when I'm standing there shooting it," Cross said. "Not even when it's wrapped. Not even when I get to go do [automated dialogue replacement]. Not even when I'm at the theater and it's playing. The next day — that's when I'll believe it."
So, how long will it be before producers are putting Cross on that long road toward making him a believer?
"I have no idea," he said.
Cera, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman have all come out in favor of pushing ahead with the movie, but even if Hurwitz believes production can begin in 2011, Cross needs proof.
"OK, great! Show me," he said. "There's, like, nine people involved."
Basically, if fans of the show want reassurance that the logistics required to bring everyone back are feasible, they won't find it in an interview with Cross. The "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Megamind" actor just doesn't have faith right now, even if he would love to see "Arrested Development" return.
"I'm realistically optimistic," he confessed, "which is to say, not that optimistic."