Jason Bateman continues to stave off the post-Ozark boredom by signing on to direct another feature-length project, this one titled The Pinkerton.
The upcoming flick described as a “supernatural revenge western-hybrid”, which was acquired by both Warner Bros and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot two years ago, is based on the real-life detective agency and private security company from the 1850s.
Established in the US by Scotsman Allan Pinkerton, a former deputy sheriff in Illinois, Pinkerton’s founder achieved mainstream recognition when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln would eventually hire Pinkerton agents for his personal guard detail during the Civil War.
RELATED: Jason Bateman To Direct Netflix’s FBI Crime Thriller ‘Dark Wire’
It’s unclear whether Bateman will step in front of the camera for this one while juggling directorial duties, although we know he’ll also be executive producing alongside heavyweight veteran Michael Costigan with J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella representing Bad Robot on this front. Release date, cast members, and trailer TBA.
In addition to The Pinkerton, Jason Bateman has opted to continue his extremely fruitful relationship with Netflix by helming its adaptation of a yet-to-be-published book known as Dark Wire.
Written by Vice Motherboard journalist Joseph Cox, Dark Wire uncovers the true story of how the FBI established a fake telecommunications company, and eventually became the phone service providers to the world’s most notorious gangs. According to Deadline – minor spoilers – this would culminate in the arrest of 1,000+international criminals.
The screenplay is currently being accomplished by Matthew Orton (Operation Finale, Moon Knight) with Bateman once again locked in to produce alongside Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films; Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine for 21 Laps (Stranger Things); plus Tracey Nyberg as executive producer. Representing Netflix itself, Niija Kuykendall has been tapped to serve as creative lead. Dark Wire release date, cast members, and trailer also TBA.
RELATED: Jason Bateman To Lead Another Netflix Thriller ‘Carry On’
Then there’s the matter of the forthcoming Netflix thriller Carry On, which focuses on Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) – a young TSA agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveller to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. Sources indicate Bateman is set to portray the mysterious traveller.
Carry On will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows, Jungle Cruise, Black Adam) and has been penned by video game scribe TJ Fixman of Ratchet & Clank fame; with the latest story revisions accomplished by Michael Green, who has slightly more experience with traditional cinema given he’s written the likes of Logan, Blade Runner 2049, as well as Collet-Serra’s Jungle Cruise.
