Fox TV locks up Jason Bateman
'Arrested' star to develop series for network
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The one-year deal comes as Bateman continues to experience a post-"Arrested Development" career resurgence. Twentieth tapped Bateman to direct the pilot for "Do Not Disturb," which scored a fall series berth on Fox. He's also providing one of the lead voices on the Fox animated skein "Sit Down, Shut Up," which 20th is co-producing with Sony Pictures TV. (The fate of that show is unclear, however, as scribes have been told "Sit Down" won't be a WGA show.)
Under the deal, Bateman will give 20th first crack at anything Bateman develops with his F+A Prod. label. Bateman said he's already kicking around several ideas and plans to meet with writers in the coming weeks.
"I'm an avid consumer of television, and I've got varying tastes," he said. Bateman said he'd love to pattern his production banner after those of other actors who have successfully made the transition to producing, including his "Arrested" boss, Ron Howard.
"It's an ambitious and long-term goal," he said. Bateman is next seen in "Hancock" with Will Smith. He also appears in a lead role with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck in "State of Play" and appears in the Ricky Gervais comedy feature "This Side of the Truth."
