Ozark returns to Netflix for season 4 with a large final season. We already have a lot of information on season four, including the new cast members and what we can expect. Here’s the latest on what we know so far about Netflix season 4. Ozark .
Often ranked among the best Netflix shows, Ozark is a Netflix original crime drama series created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams.
Ozark’s popularity has exploded, becoming one of the best Netflix originals to date. In April 2020, we learned that the series is among the most viewed titles of all time. Just under 30 million people watched the third season.
The show began life on Netflix in the summer of 2017, and despite constant comparisons to Breaking Bad , it has earned a spot among Netflix’s best. He is one of the top award magnets winning 32 Emmy nominations alone.
Has Netflix renewed Ozark for season 4?
Netflix Official 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 return for a fourth and final season.
The news appeared on multiple Netflix social media platforms, confirming that Season 4 will be Ozark’s last , with the caveat that it will be split into two halves. 14 episodes will make up season 4 in total and each half will be 7 episodes.
Jason Bateman said the following:
“A big season means big problems for the Byrdes.
And showrunner Chris Munday has voiced his opinion on Netflix allowing the series to conclude.
We are very happy that Netflix recognized the importance of giving #Ozark more time to finish the Byrdes saga well.
Ozark was destined to return
It should come as no surprise that Netflix renewed Ozark for a fourth season. For almost two months, Ozark dominated the lists of the 10 best newspapers on Netflix.
Just before the season 4 announcement, in an interview with Jason Bateman on Collider (a really cool read by the way!), Bateman revealed some interesting ideas about the production and what that means for season 4.
He revealed that each episode takes around eleven days to shoot with two weeks in advance to prepare. In total, it is around six months of production to film a full season.
When asked if the series could be retaken for two additional seasons in a row to wrap up the story, Jason Bateman had this to say:
“I leave all those smart and complicated conversations to those who can manage them. My fastball, if I have one, is more on the set. So I’ll let Chris, MRC and Netflix find out what the life of the show is and what form it will take.
When Collider asked Chris Mundy (the Ozark showrunner ) about season four, he said the following:
“Well, if we’re lucky enough to get a season 4, I think it will be about whether Ruth can really create something of her own that she wants and is sustainable, or if she wants something more. And I think it will be about whether the Byrdes can turn the biggest mistake of their lives into this great advantage, and how much will their karma carry if they do?
Where is Ozark season 4 in production and when will it launch on Netflix?
Naturally, we’re a long way from seeing any news regarding the season 4 release date for Ozark . Regardless, we can still speculate on when we can expect the crime drama to return to Netflix.
Based on the release dates of the previous season of Ozark there have been around 19 months between seasons, but with two shorter seasons that could see the series return a little earlier. Our money is currently on a Q2-Q4 2021 release for season 4a and then 2022 for season 4b.
In August 2020, we learned (via IndieWire) that filming for the series was scheduled to restart on November 9, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bateman also announced that he would not direct as the show shifts to safe production of COVID-19.
We haven’t seen anything official yet on whether filming began on this date.
What can we expect from the fourth season of Ozark ?
Warning: Huge Ozark Season 3 Spoilers Ahead!
Season 3 was an explosive season of Ozark , leaving us with vast amounts to contemplate heading into season 4.
Langmore / Snell / KC Alliance
Ben’s death became the final straw for Ruth and her loyalty to the Byrdes. Choosing to resign and distance herself from the family, Ruth, like her cousin Wyatt, has joined Darlene at Snell’s poppy farm. Darlene has offered Ruth a position, running the daily production, ensuring that the heroin, made on site, reaches the Kansas City mob for distribution.
Switching allegiance turned out 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 the Byrdes had in years.
Ruth has a lot to prove, mainly to herself, but also to the Byrdes, that she is not a person to be trifled with. Langmore’s matriarch is smart and ruthless, all of which Darlene greatly admires.
In a recent interview, Julia Garner teased that in season 4, “she [Ruth] wants to regain that independence she had before the Byrdes came.”
Darlene’s actions against Frank Jr. are unlikely to have repercussions, due to the fact that she negotiated a million-dollar deal for the KC mob with Frank Sr.
There’s no love between the KC mob and Byrde’s Lake Ozark operation, but without the mob to move the cartel money, and now Darlene is allied with them, we can look forward to even more fireworks next season.
The shock of Ben’s death
Ben was the wild card foreshadowed by Agent Evans at the beginning of season three, and his presence was felt from start to finish, and arguably will be felt through season four despite being dead.
Despite the fact that Ben suffered from mental illness, he arguably had the most humane 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 her whereabouts so that Helen’s hitman could get rid of him.
Wendy has grown into a cold, calculated, and hardened woman, but her decision to let Ben die may be the one that breaks her. Her will to survive is incredibly strong, but with time to reflect on her actions, Wendy may find herself in a dark rabbit hole from which there may be no chance of returning.
For his age, Jonah has already experienced more trauma than most adults. His exposure to the family business had left Jonah numb to murder, but his uncle’s death has pushed him to the limit. Jonah nearly 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 poked a hole in the living room window with a shotgun, but next season his actions could be much heavier.
Charlotte, who did not consider herself particularly close to her uncle, will still rebound from his death. She is close to her brother, but depending on her actions, she may have to decide between siding with him or siding with her parents. Charlotte had wanted to become emancipated before, but finally decided to stay with the family, now might be the perfect time to leave.
Marty will have to deal with his family after Ben’s death. Not to mention, Marty no longer has Ruth working for him, which means he’ll be under more pressure to run the day-to-day business of the casino.
The Byrdes become Navarro’s right-wing couple
By using images of the Lagunas cartel attack, Marty and Wendy were able to stop the war between the Navarro cartel and Lagunas. By stopping the war and ensuring the safety of Navarro’s family and assets, Marty and Wendy have proven their worth to the drug lord.
The Byrdes finally proved that they were far more valuable than Helen, who was killed in the eyes of Wendy and Marty. Helen had a lot of power and influence within the Navarro Cartel, and with her, off the scene, it can be assumed that the Byrdes, most likely Wendy, will receive the same power that Helen had.
The implications of this are huge, as Wendy is now expected to make some extremely difficult decisions. For the sake of the cartel and to make money, Helen had no problem making decisions that led to the death of innocent people. Previously, Wendy has displayed the same cruelty, but Ben’s death can weigh heavily on her, affecting her ability to perform tasks as Helen.
The role of Marty is likely to continue as normal, laundering money for the cartel and trying to get Agent Miller on his side.
Will the Byrdes try to escape?
With each passing season, the Byrdes have sunk more and more into the clutches of the Navarro cartel. At this point, to escape with life and freedom, Marty would have to make a deal with the FBI.
If they even dared to try to escape, they would be relentlessly hunted by both the Navarro cartel and the FBI.
Who are the cast members of Ozark season 4?
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 Tres Langmore
- Jessica Frances Dukes as Special Agent Maya Miller
- Felix Solis as Omar Navarro
It is unclear if Tom Pelphrey will return as Ben Davis due to the death of his character. If the actor is going to return, he is more than likely in a flashback.
In November 2020, we learned of a series of new castings for the final season through Deadline. Here is the list of new cast members:
- Alfonso Herrera (The Exorcist) as Javi Elizonndro – “a member of the Navarro family who walks a fine line between playing obedient lieutenant and conspiring to take over his uncle’s cartel”
- Adam Rothenberg (Ripper Street) as Mel Sattem – ‘a police officer who fell from grace and now works as a private investigator. Enjoy the chase and will not rest until you discover 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 Visit) as Clare Shaw
