Jason Bateman to Team with Bad Robot, Will Direct 'The Pinkerton' for Warner Bros.

by Darian Scalamoni

    Jason Bateman was always known as the straight man playing across many different comedies. Whether that be in the sitcom Arrested Development, comedy films such as Game Night or Couples Retreat or voicing a fox for Disney in Zootopia, he's always sort of flew under the radar. That was until he came into a new creative venture by starring, producing and directing Ozark for Netflix back in 2017. It was a project that completely changed the dynamic of how many viewed Bateman. Now, he has a new directorial project in tow, this time, teaming with J.J. Abrams company, Bad Robot.

    Coming from an exclusive via Deadline, Bateman will direct The Pinkerton for Warner Bros. The film is written by Daniel Casey (F9: The Fast Saga, Kin) and is inspired by the real-life security guard and detective agency formed in the United States by Scotsman, Allan Pinkerton. The service was created in 1850, though Pinkerton is most famous for allegedly claiming to have foiled a plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln when he was President-elect. Lincoln later hired Pinkerton agents to be his personal security during the Civil War. 

    This is a cool project for Bateman who will work within a major period piece, a departure from the Ozarks of Missouri. The actor/director previously directed Bad Words and The Family Fang before turning to television to star in and direct episodes of Ozark for Netflix and The Outsider for HBO. Bateman is also slated to direct both a romantic heist film Here Comes the Flood and the series, Black Rabbit, for Netflix. The latter will also star Bateman alongside Jude Law. Bateman recently wrapped filming on Ben Affleck's Air for Amazon Studios and is filming Carry On opposite Taron Egerton for Jaume Collet-Serra and Netflix.