A multi-stage process and system for formation of a polyarylene sulfide is described. The multi-stage process can include at least three separate formation stages that can take place in three different reactors. The first stage of the formation process can include reaction of an alkali metal sulfide with an organic amide solvent to form a complex including a hydrolysis product of the solvent and an alkali metal hydrogen sulfide. The second stage of the formation process can include reaction of the complex formed in the first stage with a dihaloaromatic monomer to form a prepolymer, and the third stage can include further polymerization of the prepolymer with additional monomers to form the final product.