Jason Bateman underwent a career resurgence with ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT that helped launch him to leading man roles in films like HORRIBLE BOSSES and IDENTITY THIEF. Not content to rest on his laurels, Bateman delivered his directorial debut BAD WORDS earlier this year and is already hard at work on his second film, THE FAMILY FANG. But, even with that film just getting started, Bateman has already found his third directorial project.
Bateman will direct a currently untitled comedy for Universal from screenwriters David Bar Katz, David Flebotte and Phil Alden Robinson. There is nothing revealed yet about the plot of the comedy, only that it centers on an FBI-themed wedding. Now, that could mean it is the wedding of FBI agents and happens to be a comedy, or is a wedding comedy that features the FBI, or any number of vague theories.
It is worth noting that BAD WORDS was released by Focus Features, while THE FAMILY FANG and now this comedy will be released by Universal, possibly a sign of a much wider release after seeing his chops on BAD WORDS. Bateman is still acting between directing gigs as he has THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU and HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 coming up soon.
I like Jason Bateman even though he seems to play variations on the same character in every film he does. He showed a little more edge in BAD WORDS and I hope that translates into these next projects.