Jason Bateman, known for winning Golden Globe and Emmy awards, is in talks to direct the upcoming film adaptation of John Grisham’s bestselling 1997 novel, The Partner, produced by Universal Pictures. The project stars Tom Holland, who is producing alongside his brother Harry Holland through their Billy17 production company. Holland is also rumored to be cast as the lead character Patrick Lanigan.
If Bateman finalizes the agreement, he will also join as executive producer representing Aggregate Films. This effort marks Bateman’s first directorial feature since 2015’s The Family Fang, following his 2013 film Bad Words, and signals a significant return to feature directing for the Ozark actor.
Plot Overview: The Story Behind Tom Holland’s The Partner
The narrative centers on Patrick Lanigan, a young partner at an upscale Biloxi law firm who fabricates his own death using a burning car to vanish from his current life.
The story follows Patrick Lanigan, a young partner in a white shoe Biloxi law firm who fakes his own death in a burning car. He’s left behind a wife, newborn daughter, and a secret,
the synopsis explains.
What he’s actually done is fake his death to create a template for a new life by stealing $90 million from a client of his crooked law firm. He finds happiness and love in South America. When the client, who worked so hard to defraud the government, finds the money is missing from his offshore accounts, he becomes determined to hunt down the lawyer he doesn’t believe is dead. That leads the attorney to have to turn himself in to the FBI and face up to the wife, child, and life he left behind.
Production Team and Creative Contributors
Renowned screenwriter Graham Moore, responsible for The Imitation Game, will pen the screenplay for The Partner. Production is handled by Will South, Jonathan Eirich, and Michael Costigan of Aggregate Films, with executive producers including John Grisham, Nick Reynolds, and David Gernert. The film rights transferred to Rideback after initially being developed at New Regency. Universal Pictures’ executives Ryan Jones and Jacqueline Garell oversee the project from the studio’s side.
Tom Holland’s Current and Upcoming Projects
Aside from leading The Partner, Tom Holland is starring in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey, which also features Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and his fiancée Zendaya. Holland is also filming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, slated for release on July 31, 2026. Additionally, he is attached to the sports drama American Speed alongside Austin Butler.
The Importance of The Partner in Contemporary Cinema
The adaptation of The Partner represents a notable intersection of talent—from established director Jason Bateman to Hollywood’s rising star Tom Holland—and promises to bring John Grisham’s intense legal thriller to a broad audience. With its themes involving deception, betrayal, and pursuit, the film fits well into the thriller genre, capturing both suspense and personal conflict. Bateman’s return as director, along with Holland’s dual role as producer and lead actor, signals high expectations for the film’s critical and commercial performance upon release.
