When Jason Bateman and Jude Law signed on to star in Netflix’s new limited series Black Rabbit, they weren’t just committing to a thriller set in New York City—they were diving into a raw exploration of family, survival, and the blurred lines between love and rivalry. At a recent press conference, the actors reflected on the collaborative process that shaped the show, their dynamic as on-screen brothers, and the creative freedom of working both in front of and behind the camera.
Playing Brothers in a City That Never Sleeps
For both Bateman and Law, the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Black Rabbit confirmed the series’ blend of grit and dark humor landed with audiences. “We’re making it for an audience, so it’s always nice to see how it plays,” Bateman said. “Thankfully [they] found some of the comedy that we tried to hide in there… a good little counter-balance to a lot of the danger and the grit and the grime that runs throughout it.”
The New York setting, captured authentically on location, adds another layer of intensity. Law joked about one of the more surreal moments of production: “Walking along the highway in New York in your underwear? It was something I’d always hoped would happen—especially with each other.” Bateman added, “It was a box checked for us.”
The city’s energy fueled the show’s suspense, but its heart lies in the bond between Vince (Bateman) and Jake (Law). “That dynamic was very much at the heart of the story,” Law explained. “It felt very comfortable between the pair of us as actors. We both liked the opportunity to play within that and push each other. Once you get comfortable in that, there’s no end.”
Bateman said their real-life rapport allowed them to explore the extremes of brotherhood onscreen. “If you have half a heart in you, you kind of feel weird and bad about screaming at somebody… but if you have a great connection with somebody, you don’t feel bad about telling ’em to go eff themselves. You can fight as much as you want, and you’re never gonna break up. You’re always gonna be brothers.”
The Weight of Shared History
The characters’ relationship is anchored not only in affection but also in unresolved trauma. “There’s a historical trauma that they share, which is revealed,” Law teased. “Once you know there’s something like that in their past, you understand why they also have this extra layer of protection over each other and connection.”
Bateman credited the show’s creators Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for carefully mapping out the brothers’ points of connection. “Filling a blank page and deciding where these points of connection are and under what guise—that’s the brilliance and the tricky part of writing,” he said.
That collaboration extended well beyond the scripts. “We were lucky enough to begin working with Jude and Jason even before we’d written a single page,” Susman recalled. “Seeing Jason step into Vince and Jude into Jake, all of a sudden you’re like—wow, that’s who this person is.”
Baylin agreed: “It was scary to hand it off after living with it for so long, but obviously we’re thrilled with what everyone brought. It becomes something so much bigger when you allow other voices to impact it.”
Acting Opposite Troy Kotsur
Another standout in Black Rabbit is Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur as crime boss Mancuso. Baylin revealed the role was written with him in mind: “When we started to write the role of Mancuso… it was written for him in the long shot that he would actually say yes.”
Law described working with Kotsur as “an extraordinary experience,” noting his unique screen presence: “There’s something in stillness on film that has incredible impact. He has this sort of presence, this stillness that is so confident.”
Bateman, who also directed episodes, assured Kotsur he didn’t need to overcompensate for not using his voice. “I told him we’d capture that. We’d preserve that. And I think it’s just an incredible performance.”
The Freedom of Producing
Both Bateman and Law also served as executive producers, shaping the show behind the camera. For Law, the role was relatively new but transformative. “It allows me to get involved in projects or characters that maybe otherwise I wouldn’t be, because as an actor for hire, you’re waiting to be cast in roles that other people just perceive you in,” he said. “With this, you’re starting at the beginning. You hold the reins a little firmer.”
Bateman, who has been producing for years, emphasized the importance of collaboration: “If you’re privileged to be on board with something early on, you can have a hand in casting every part and crewing up every position and dealing with marketing downstream that properly represents that which you’ve captured. All of those things really matter if you’re trying to hit a smaller target.”
For both actors, Black Rabbit is a project that let them challenge themselves while exploring the unshakable bond—and volatility—of brotherhood. As Bateman put it: “We’re both attracted to things that are hopefully a little bit more challenging than some of the stuff that has a lot of success. And I hope we’ve done that with this.”
All episodes of Black Rabbit are streaming now on Netflix.
