We know Jason Bateman can be very funny in front of the camera. And he’s proven with Arrested Development that he can make us laugh on both sides of the camera, as he directed an episode of the series, among other projects. But now he’s hoping to show he can do direct on the big screen, targeting Bad Words as his movie directorial debut.
Snatched from the 2011 Black List, Andrew Dodge’s script finds a bitter man sneakily competing in a national kids’ spelling bee. But though he sees it as a chance for a laugh, he befriends a female reporter and takes a young Indian contestant under his wing. And that’s when the trouble really starts…
Bateman is planning to produce the movie via his DumbDumb production company, with Darko Entertainment picking up the financing tab. It’s now on the hunt for a studio distribution deal.
The actor is currently hard at work filming his latest laugher, **Identity Thief **with co-star Melissa McCarthy and director Seth Gordon. He recently shot ‘net-focused drama Disconnect and has This Is Where I Leave You lined up. And there’s the small matter of him starring in more Arrested episodes, which are currently being written. When creator Mitch Hurwitz isn’t busy making executive producer Ron Howard laugh, that is…