Ozark – Picture: Netflix
Ozark is returning to Netflix for season 4, with a supersized but sadly, final season. We’ve already got a bunch of information surrounding the fourth season including new cast members, production updates, and what we can expect. Here’s the latest on what we know so far about season 4 of Netflix’s Ozark.
Often ranked among the best shows on Netflix, Ozark is a Netflix Original crime drama series created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams.
The popularity of Ozark has skyrocketed, becoming one of the biggest and best Originals on Netflix to date. In April 2020, we got word that the series ranks among the most-watched titles of all time. Just under 30 million people watched the third season.
The show kickstarted its life on Netflix back in the summer of 2017 and despite drawing constant comparisons to Breaking Bad, it’s earned its place among the best on Netflix. It’s been a big awards magnets earning 32 Emmy nominations alone. The most recent season landed on Netflix back in March 2020.
So, with season 3 wrapped up, let’s take a look at the future:
Has Netflix renewed Ozark for season 4?
Official Netflix Renewal Status: Renewed (Last Updated: 06/30/2020)
A day after we reported that Ozark had been renewed in June 2020, Netflix has finally confirmed that Ozark will be returning for a fourth and final season.
The news broke on multiple Netflix social media platforms, confirming that season 4 will be the last of Ozark, with the caveat that it will be split into two halves. Fourteen episodes will make up season 4 in total, with each half being seven episodes.
Jason Bateman had the following to say:
“A super sized season means super sized problems for the Byrdes.”
And showrunner Chris Munday has had his say on Netflix allowing the series to conclude.
“We’re so happy Netflix recognized the importance of giving #Ozark more time to end the Byrdes’ saga right.”
The return of Ozark for season 4 was a no-brainer according to the available metric. For almost two months Ozark dominated the daily top 10 lists on Netflix.
Just before the season 4 announcement, in an interview with Jason Bateman in Collider (a really great read by the way!) Bateman revealed some interesting insights into the production and what that means for season 4.
He revealed that each episode takes around eleven days to film, with two weeks beforehand to prep. In all, it’s around six months of production to film an entire season.
When asked whether the series could be picked up for two additional seasons back-to-back to conclude the story, Jason Bateman said the following:
“I kind of leave all those smart and complicated conversations up to those who can manage them. My fastball, if I’ve got one, is more on the set. So, I’ll leave it up to Chris and MRC and Netflix to figure out what the life of the show is and what shape it will take.”
When Collider then asked Chris Mundy (the showrunner for Ozark) about the fourth season, he said the following:
“Well, if we’re lucky enough to get a season 4, I think it will be about whether or not Ruth really can create something of her own that she wants and is sustainable, or if she wants something else. And I think it will be about if the Byrdes can they turn the biggest mistake of their lives into this huge advantage, and how much will karma catch up with them if they do?”
Where is Ozark season 4 in production and when will it release on Netflix?
Thanks to Wesley Hogan, the location manager of Ozark, we know that the first block of filming for the fourth season has been completed back in late 2020.
In Hogan’s discussion with KFTV in October 2020, he revealed the incredibly busy filming schedule Ozark was going under.
“The first block of filming will take place over 38 days, 30 of which will be in 40 different locations.”
Filming for the fourth season began on November 9th, and assuming there we no delays in production thanks to COVID-19, the first block will have ended on Thursday, 17th December 2020.
Due to Covid-19 Jason Bateman has revealed he won’t be directing any further episodes of Ozark.
The latest production update we got was back at a Deadline panel in March 2021.
“As far as when it’s gonna come out, it’s really going to be reliant on, you know, if we can stay in production,” said Bateman. “This sort of this race, the whole world is in between vaccinations and these variants. I mean, basically, it’s going to get to us a whole lot quicker now that Joe Biden’s got his hand on the wheel. It would have would have taken longer with the last administration, so I think we’re gonna get it to TV sooner thanks to Uncle Joe.”
New casting calls in May 2021 reveal that filming is very much ongoing with filming still planned for late May 2021. It’s hard to look too much into casting calls but they’re currently recruiting federal agents, business people, gang members, cafe patrons, a newscaster and people to take part in an airport scene too.
Ozark season 4 release date
Based on the previous season release dates of Ozark there has been around 19 months between seasons but with two shortened seasons which could see the series return a little earlier. Our money is currently on a Q4 2021 release (although the title hasn’t ever been name-checked for a 2021 release so this could easily be false) for season 4A and then 2022 for season 4B.
IMDb still lists season 4 for a 2021 release.
What can we expect from the fourth season of Ozark?
Warning: huge spoilers for Ozark season three ahead!
Season three was an explosive season of Ozark, leaving us with huge amounts to contemplate for the fourth season.
What happens to the Langmore/Snell/KC Alliance?
The death of Ben became the straw that broke the camel’s back for Ruth and her loyalty to the Byrdes. Choosing to quit and distance herself from the family, Ruth, like her cousin Wyatt, has instead joined Darlene at the Snell poppy farm. Darlene has offered Ruth a position, running the day-to-day production, ensuring the heroin, manufactured on-site, gets to the Kansas City mob for distribution.
Switching loyalties proved to be an easy decision for Ruth in the end, as Darlene had shown more loyalty and love to Ruth’s family in months, than what the Byrdes did in years.
Pictured: Jason Bateman (right) and Julia Garner – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
Ruth has a lot to prove, mainly to herself, but also to the Byrdes that she is not a person to be trifled with. The Langmore matriarch is intelligent and ruthless, all of which Darlene greatly admires.
In a recent interview, Julia Garner teased that in season 4, “she [Ruth] wants that independence back that she had before the Byrdes came in.”
Darlene’s actions against Frank Jr. is unlikely to reap any repercussions, due to the fact she negotiated a deal worth millions of dollars to the KC mob with Frank Sr.
There’s no love lost between the KC mob and the Byrde’s operation in Lake Ozark, but without the mob to move the cartel cash, and now Darlene is in league with them, we can expect even more fireworks next season.
The Impact of Ben’s Death
Ben was the wildcard foreshadowed by Agent Evans at the start of the third season, and his presence was felt throughout from start to finish, and will arguably be felt long into the fourth season despite being dead.
Despite the fact that Ben suffered from mental illness, he arguably had the most human reaction to his family’s ongoing business with the Navarro Cartel. His confusion, disgust, but ultimately his naivety of his family’s situation resulted in his own sister, Wendy, giving up his whereabouts so that Helen’s hitman could dispose of him.
Pictured: Tom Pelphrey – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
Wendy has become a cold, calculated and hardened woman, but her decision to let Ben die may be the one to break her. Her will to survive is incredibly strong, but with time to reflect on her actions Wendy may find herself down a dark rabbit hole that there may not be any chance of coming back from.
For his age, Jonah has already experienced more trauma than most adults. His exposure to the family business had left Jonah desensitized to murder, but the death of his uncle has pushed him to the edge. Jonah almost murdered Helen in an act of revenge but learned from her that his mother, Wendy, gave Ben up, leading to his death. In a fit of rage, Jonah blew a hole in the living room window with a shotgun, but next season his actions could be far heavier.
Pictured: Tom Pelphrey as Ben Davis – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
Charlotte, who wasn’t seen to be particularly close with her uncle, will still be reeling from his death. She is close to her brother, but depending on his actions she may need to decide between siding with him, or siding with her parents. Charlotte had previously wanted to emancipate, but ultimately decided to stay with the family, now could be the perfect time to leave.
Marty will have to contend with his family in the wake of Ben’s death. Not to mention Marty no longer has Ruth working for him, which means he’ll be under more pressure running the day-to-day business of the casino.
The Byrdes become Navarro’s right-hand couple
By using the footage of the Lagunas cartel attack, Marty and Wendy were able to stop the war between the Navarro and Lagunas cartel. By stopping the war, and securing the safety of Navarro’s family and assets, Marty and Wendy have proven their value to the drug lord.
The Byrdes ultimately proved they were far more valuable than Helen, who was murdered right before the eyes of Wendy and Marty. Helen had lots of power and influence within the Navarro Cartel, and with her, out of the picture, it can be assumed that the Byrdes, most likely Wendy, will be given the same power as what Helen held.
Pictured: Felix Solis as Omar Navarro – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
The implications of this are huge, as it will now be expected of Wendy to make some extremely tough decisions. For the sake of the cartel, and making money, Helen had no problem with making decisions that lead to the death of innocent people. Previously, Wendy has shown the same ruthlessness, but the death of Ben may weigh heavily on her, impacting her ability to carry out tasks like Helen.
Marty’s role is likely to continue on as normal, laundering money for the cartel and trying to get Agent Miller on side.
Pictured: Jason Bateman (left) and Jessica Frances Dukes (right) – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
Will the Byrdes attempt an escape?
Each passing season the Byrdes have sunk deeper and deeper into the clutches of the Navarro cartel. By this point, to escape with their lives and freedom, Marty would have to take the deal with the FBI.
If they even dared to try and run away they would be relentlessly hunted by both the Navarro cartel and the FBI.
Who are the cast members of Ozark season 4?
Caution: spoiler alerts below.
The following cast members are confirmed to return for the fourth season of Ozark:
- Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde
- Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde
- Sofia Hublitz as Charlotte Byrde
- Skylar Gaertner as Jonah Byrde
- Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore
- Lisa Emery as Darlene Snell
- Charlie Tahan as Wyatt Langmore
- Carson Holmes as Three Langmore
- Jessica Frances Dukes as Special Agent Maya Miller
- Felix Solis as Omar Navarro
It’s unclear if Tom Pelphrey will return as Ben Davis due to his character’s death. If the actor is to return, it’s more than likely to be in a flashback.
Pictured: Laura Linney (left) and Jason Bateman (right) – Copyright. Media Rights Capital
In November 2020, we got word of a number of new castings for the final season via Deadline. Here’s the list of new cast members:
- Alfonso Herrera (The Exorcist) as Javi Elizonndro – “member of the Navarro family who walks a fine line between playing the obedient lieutenant and scheming to take over his uncle’s cartel”
- Adam Rothenberg (Ripper Street) as Mel Sattem – “cop who fell from grace who now works as a P.I. He enjoys the chase and won’t rest until he unravels the truth.”
- Felix Solid (Charmed) as Omar Navarro
- Damian Young (Homeland) as Jim Rettelsdorf
- Bruno Bichir (Narcos) as Navarro’s Priest
- CC Castillo (Outer Banks) as Sheriff Leigh Guerrero
- Katrina Lenk (The Band’s Visit) as Clare Shaw
- Aaron Gillespie (Brockmire) as Kenny
- Patricia French as Lorna
- Adam Rothenberg as Mel Sattem
New cast members for Ozark season 4
Are you excited for Ozark season 4 on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!