Ozark Boss Explains That Shock Character Return In Final Season

Ozark season four spoilers follow.

Ozark boss Chris Mundy has opened up on the show's decision to film a surprise return for deceased character Ben Davis.

Episode 10 of the Netflix drama's fourth and final season opened with a shock return for actor Tom Pelphrey as Wendy Byrde's late brother Ben, who was killed off-screen by Nelson (Nelson Bonilla) in season three after Wendy (Laura Linney) abandoned him at a restaurant.

Fans had never seen exactly what happened to Ben in his final moments, but 'You're the Boss' opened with a newly-filmed flashback scene that detailed Ben's heartbreaking death.

Related: Ozark boss breaks down controversial finale twist

In the scenes, Ben realises that his sister has abandoned him and that Nelson is going to kill him. Before he dies, Ben, who had bipolar disorder, tells Nelson that he thinks he is dreaming.

Mundy has now told TVLine that the idea to bring Ben back for a brief appearance came while the team were deep into the planning of season four.

"We felt like there had now been enough distance [from Ben's death]," he said. "So much of Season 4 Parts 1 and 2 are about Ben; he's the shadow cast over all of it.

"That's where much of Wendy's mania comes from. He was already such a presence that it felt like it was OK to see him."

Related: Kaley Cuoco appears to confirm romance with Ozark actor Tom Pelphrey

The executive producer added that the team were also keen to welcome actor Pelphrey back on set, if only for a limited time.

"On a purely practical level, it was a chance to have Tom Pelphrey come back again," he said. "And more Tom Pelphrey is a good thing."

Mundy has also addressed the possibility of a spin-off series now that Ozark has wrapped for good, saying that there are "ways to stay inside the show and revisit things".

"It's definitely something that people have talked about a bunch," he said. "There's nothing definitive. We're lucky that people seem to really like the show so there's obviously going to be some interest there."

Ozark is available to stream now on Netflix.

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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.