What happens when two Hollywood heavyweights trade in their charm for chaos? You get “Black Rabbit,” Netflix’s sleek, street-smart new limited series starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law. Yes, two very different actors, and now brothers, who prove that family bonds can be both powerful and destructive.
The eight-episode thriller, dropping September 18 on Netflix, is the creation of Oscar-nominated writer Zach Baylin (“King Richard”) and his producing partner Kate Susman. But the real electricity comes from its stars. Bateman, the deadpan master of dysfunction best known for “Arrested Development” and “Ozark,” and Law, the ever-suave British icon behind films like “The Young Pope,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” and Cameron Diaz’s “The Holiday.”
This time, though, they’re not here to look polished. They’re here to unravel, and by the description, things might be a tad messy.
Brothers in Business & Trouble
In “Black Rabbit,” Law plays Jake Friedken, the stylish, calculated owner of a high-end New York restaurant and VIP lounge. Yes, you guessed it, the Black Rabbit. He’s a smooth operator building an empire from scratch. Then along comes Vince, played by Bateman, Jake’s estranged brother and walking disaster.
Bateman said what drew him to the role was flipping the audience’s expectations of what he usually does. “I think people would expect me to play Jake, the normal guy, but I’ve really got a great idea for this other guy, Vince,” he told Vanity Fair. “Everybody’s either got a sibling, or a friendship where you love being with one another, but it’s kind of dangerous…they usually get you in trouble, but they’re really exciting to be around.”
Vince is impulsive, unpredictable, and a magnet for chaos. He’s also kind of, let’s call it, fun. The kind of guy who could ruin your life and buy you a shot while doing it. Definitely doesn’t sound like Bateman’s real persona, which is why it might work in the end.
Law says working with Bateman made the casting a no-brainer. “He brings a twist of humor and humanity to the drama,” Law told Vanity Fair. “In darkness you smile while you’re crying or you laugh while you’re cringing. It’s a very hard, very graceful note to play… and it just seemed like a very interesting contrast.”
A New York Story That Feels a Little Too Real
Set in a gritty version of downtown New York, “Black Rabbit” trades in glamour for authenticity. Inspired by legendary nightlife spots, the series blends shadowy corners with cultural cachet, think art, food, music, and crime all colliding at high speeds.
According to the description, the series is, “Set against the backdrop of New York City’s high-pressure nightlife scene, Black Rabbit centers around two brothers who learn just how far family, and the pursuit of success, can push them to the edge.”
It continued, saying, “Black Rabbit is a propulsive thrill ride and character examination about the way an unbreakable bond between two brothers can shatter their world and everything in its orbit.”
Bateman didn’t just star, he directed the first two episodes, bringing that signature moody edge he perfected on “Ozark.” His on-set partner-in-crime? None other than Laura Linney, who directed episodes three and four after Bateman convinced her to step behind the camera again.
“She stepped into it knowing how difficult it was, and did an incredible job,” Bateman said.
And yes, Law is still, somehow, the most gorgeous person in the room. “We were like, ‘Is he still going to be able to be this suave New York restaurateur?’” Baylin joked. “He showed up in New York looking like Jude Law, and we’re like, ‘Oh my God, this guy’s still the most beautiful person in the world.’”
Family Feuds & High Stakes
While the series boasts an eclectic cast, Cleopatra Coleman, Odessa Young, Amaka Okafor, and Troy Kotsur among them, it’s the tension between Jake and Vince that fuels the story.
“Black Rabbit” doesn’t just explore the cracks in a family. It blows them wide open. With on-the-nose performances, atmospheric direction, and an unmistakable sense of place, it’s set to become Netflix’s next word-of-mouth hit.
As Law puts it, “We knew we had a kernel of a really interesting relationship. The more we worked on the piece as a whole, it became apparent that we had to be the heartbeat—the very center of everything.”
Mark your calendar! “Black Rabbit” premieres September 18, only on Netflix. Just don’t expect a feel-good reunion. These brothers clearly bite.
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Jason Bateman & Jude Law Star as Brothers in Netflix’s New Drama ‘Black Rabbit’