Jason Bateman: The Actor Who Became a Director

Television has seen a lot of changes over the years, and Jason Bateman has been at the forefront of many of them. Starting as a child actor on Silver Spoons, Bateman has evolved with the industry, from starring in Arrested Development to directing episodes of Ozark.

But what you might not know is that Bateman has always been working behind the scenes as well. In the 90s, he directed episodes of sitcoms, and later moved on to direct movies like Bad Words and The Family Fang. When the opportunity to direct Ozark came along, Bateman saw it as a chance to bring a cinematic approach to television.

His work on Ozark earned him an Emmy in 2019, and when the show ended in 2022, Bateman was ready for his next project. That’s when he got involved with Black Rabbit, a new series that he not only stars in but also directs the first two episodes of.

In an interview on the Prestige Junkie podcast, Bateman talks about his approach to directing and how he used his experience on Ozark to shape the world of Black Rabbit. He emphasizes the importance of creating a visual and narrative tone that guides the audience through the story.

For fans of Ozark, Bateman brings his signature moody lighting to Black Rabbit, and he even addresses the criticism that his shows can be too dark. But for Bateman, the magic of directing lies in the challenge of creating a believable world on screen.

To hear more from Bateman about his directing process and what’s next for him, check out the latest episode of the podcast. And stay tuned for more bonus episodes as Emmy season comes to a close.