Steve Diell/Netflix
Not to keep you in suspense: No, » Ozark » most likely won’t get Season 5. Netflix made that clear a long time ago when Season 4 was announced as the final season. Of course, especially in times of series revivals like «Dexter: New Blood» and prequels like «Better Call Saul», one can never say that we won’t return to the «Ozark» universe at some point. But as of now there are simply no plans for this, which is why fans shouldn’t get any hope for now.
But that’s not too bad, at least not when it comes to those involved in the series. Because in interviews, both the showrunner Chris Mundy and the two stars Jason Bateman (Marty) and Julia Garner (Ruth) were basically satisfied with the course and ending of «Ozark».
«Ozark» showrunner wanted season 5, but Netflix suggested a compromise
Earlier this year, Daily Beast interviewed Chris Mundy. In it, the «Ozark» showrunner explained that the decision as to how long the series would go was up to Netflix from the start. However, he made it clear to the streaming service that he absolutely wanted to know in good time which season would be the last to give «Ozark» a round end. An agreement that Netflix also kept.
«I spoke to [Netflix] and tried to get five [seasons] but they weren’t sure if they wanted four or five,» Mundy recalls. As a compromise solution, Netflix then suggested producing only four seasons, but making the last season extra long. So the plan came up to split Season 4 into two parts. Instead of the usual ten episodes, there were two times four at the end, i.e. a total of 14 episodes in the final season.
Mundy settled for this: «I thought somewhere in the region of four, five seasons is perfect . «
A bittersweet but smart farewell
«It’s bittersweet,» Julia Garner, who won two Emmys for her role in «Ozark,» told Time magazine , explaining her inner conflict. “From an artistic point of view, ending on a high is certainly the wisest decision. You don’t want to be the last to leave the party. From a personal and selfish perspective, I could do this show until I’m 70. […] It was a dream, such a personal experience. It kind of makes it hard to be on other sets because I’m used to that ‘Ozark’ standard.”
Jason Bateman probably took the finale a little easier. After all, in an interview for the third season of Collider , he emphasized how important it is for the series to end on time: «The alternative is to flatten the arc of suspense so that you don’t pass the climax too soon. But then you just delay everything with additional episodes and seasons.”
In addition, he had always assumed that the series would go for about three to five seasons. So the fact that “Ozark” ended with Season 4 was well prepared and anything but a surprise. Fans can at least be happy that the series got a round conclusion. Saying goodbye might still be difficult.
Relief after nasty cliffhanger: Netflix surprise hit gets second season
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