At the New York City premiere of Black Rabbit, Jason Bateman took a moment to pay tribute to Robert Redford, highlighting the late actor-director’s profound impact on film and his lasting legacy. Reflecting on Redford’s career and influence, Bateman expressed admiration for his work and the example he set in Hollywood.
Bateman shared,
“I’ve never met Mr. Redford, but I would have loved to. Of my three favorite films, ‘All the President’s Men’ is one of them… and ‘Ordinary People,’ you know, him directing that film, you know, I saw that when I was a really young kid and it was the possibility of, you know, an actor being a director too. He’s one of our greats and I’m glad we got him for as long as we did.”
—Jason Bateman
He also reflected on Redford’s peaceful passing, saying,
“Nice long life. I hear he died in his sleep too, which is like, you know, he’s not dead, he’s just still dreaming, which is kind of nice.”
—Jason Bateman
Behind the Scenes of ‘Black Rabbit’: Bateman’s New Limited Series
In addition to honoring Redford, Bateman discussed his latest project, Black Rabbit, a limited series in which Jude Law stars as an ambitious New York restaurateur pulled into the city’s criminal underworld by his unpredictable brother, played by Bateman. The show blends intense drama with complex family dynamics.
Bateman recounted the challenges of filming a memorable scene for the series, involving a bare-knuckle fight on the road.
“We’re going to have to get into a fist fight on the asphalt… with no clothes on. That sounds painful, but it just turned into one point and on a pretty warm night there, out there on the highway, it ended up being a really great scene and I didn’t hurt my soft little actor scene.”
—Jason Bateman
The actor also shared how he first met Jude Law shortly before shooting, after many virtual meetings.
“We’d done a bunch of phone calls, a bunch of Zooms, and stuff, but he was busy working, I think in Australia, and I was busy doing pre-production.”
—Jason Bateman
Creative Collaborations and Family on Set
Bateman reunited with his Ozark co-star Laura Linney, who took on directing duties for two episodes of the series. He praised Linney’s work ethic and talent on the set.
“She only lives a couple of blocks from the studio where we worked and she could have just stayed in her PJs and, you know, hanging out with her cool family, but I twisted her arm again and told her how great she was when she directed.”
—Jason Bateman
Highlighting a personal aspect of the production, Bateman spoke about involving his eldest daughter, who has developed a passion for directing.
“My eldest… she got the director bug a couple of years ago and so I made sure she was on the set and did some PA work and just to see how, you know, the sausage is made a little bit. She just absolutely loves it.”
—Jason Bateman
Significance of Robert Redford’s Legacy and Upcoming Release
Bateman’s tribute underscores Robert Redford’s lasting imprint on the film industry as an esteemed actor and director, inspiring future generations, including Bateman himself. Redford’s work continues to resonate, symbolizing the artistic possibilities that blend acting with directing.
Black Rabbit is set to launch on Netflix on September 18, promising audiences a gripping drama enhanced by the dynamic performances and personal connections that shaped its production.
