Jason Bateman Returns to Directing with Netflix Crime Comedy After 11 Years Jason Bateman is set to direct his first film in over a decade, marking a significant return to the big screen with a new Netflix project. The comedy-crime film, titled The Cackling of the Dodos, will star Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson in leading roles. Based on a script by Rye Curtis, the story follows a farmer and his boss who become entangled in a shocking cover-up after discovering a corpse in a grain bin. Rockwell, an acclaimed actor with a storied career, has appeared in numerous high-profile films, including The Green Mile, Galaxy Quest, Charlie's Angels, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Iron Man 2, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Jojo Rabbit, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, and The White Lotus. His portrayal of Jason Dixon in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri earned him critical acclaim and multiple awards, including nods at the Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics' Choice Awards, and BAFTAs. Harrelson, who also appeared in Three Billboards, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars but lost to Rockwell. Harrelson has a long history in both film and television, beginning with his breakout role in the sitcom Cheers and later starring in projects like The People vs. Larry Flynt, No Country for Old Men, The Hunger Games, Now You See Me, LBJ, The Edge of Seventeen, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and others. Bateman has a strong history with Netflix, having previously starred in the comedy series Arrested Development, which was revived by the streaming platform after being canceled by Fox. He later starred in the four-season crime drama Ozark, earning several Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.#netflix #jason_bateman #sam_rockwell #woody_harrelson #three_billboards_outside_ebbing_missouri
Netflix Unveils New Feature Film Directed by Jason Bateman During a press event on Wednesday, Netflix executives Dan Lin and Jinny Howe announced The Cackling of the Dodos, a new feature film set to be directed by Jason Bateman and starring Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, and Bateman himself. The project marks a return to the streaming giant’s theatrical slate for Bateman, who previously worked on Ozark and Black Rabbit. The film follows George, a small-town farmer who faces a chaotic ordeal after discovering a corpse in a grain bin, leading him to inadvertently become embroiled in a cover-up orchestrated by his boss, Denny. The screenplay is based on an original story by novelist Rye Curtis, known for his work on Kingdomtide. Rockwell, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, has appeared in recent films such as Argylle, See How They Run, and the Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die series. Harrelson, a three-time Oscar nominee, brings his acclaimed performances from Three Billboards, The Messenger, and The People vs. Larry Flynt to the project. His recent filmography includes Ella McCay, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and Fly Me to the Moon. Bateman, who received a SAG-AFTRA Actor Award nomination for Black Rabbit, also starred in the 2024 thriller Carry-On, which remained on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for eight weeks. His work on Ozark earned the series 45 Emmy nominations across its four-season run. Netflix Film Chairman Dan Lin addressed the streamer’s theatrical ambitions in the wake of Warner Bros.’ pursuit of a theatrical strategy, stating, “Give us some time.” He also clarified that Netflix does not require filmmakers to restate plot details for viewers on their devices, emphasizing that such a policy does not exist.#jason_bateman #sam_rockwell #woody_harrelson #dan_lin #jinny_howe
