Bearded Jason Bateman will multitask in ‘Black Rabbit’

Jason Bateman, pictured during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference playoff series between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2024, showed off the beard he's grown for the Netflix series "Black Rabbit."Elsa/Getty Images/file

Those who listen to the “Smartless” podcast know that one of its hosts, Jason Bateman, is off in New York filming the limited series “Black Rabbit” for Netflix, the home of his drama “Ozark.” Apparently, he has grown a beard and let his hair go, in order to look more like his disreputable character.

In the story, he plays Vince, the problematic brother of Jake, the owner of a hot New York City club, who is played by Jude Law. When Vince reunites with Jake, he brings enough trouble with him to threaten the survival of the club.

Bateman is directing the first two episodes, and his former “Ozark” costar, Laura Linney, is directing the next two. Linney, however, is not in the cast, which is impressive. Along with Bateman and Law, it includes Oscar winner Troy Kotsur (“CODA”), Morgan Spector (“The Gilded Age,” “The Plot Against America”), Cleopatra Coleman (“Dopesick,” “Clipped”), and Dagmara Dominczyk (Karolina on “Succession”).

Jude Law, pictured at the Met Gala in May, will play the brother of Jason Bateman's character in "Black Rabbit."Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/file