Jason Bateman: interview

Jason Bateman – star of next week’s big summer release, ‘Hancock’, alongside Will Smith – is a comedian and actor who found initial fame in the early 1980s with TV shows such as ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and family films such as ‘Teen Wolf Too’. His biggest success came with the surreal cult sitcom ‘Arrested Development’ in 2003 which led to roles in films such as ‘The Kingdom’ and ‘Juno’. In ‘Hancock’, he plays a PR man who tries to flip the poor image of renegade superhero Hancock (Smith)

You play businessmen a lot. Are you the acceptable face of corporate America?
‘Well I look like a lot of those guys. I guess there’s nothing funny about a guy who looks conservative and has it all together, but it’s satisfying to see a conservative guy crumbling inside, and I think a lot of American comedy has cottoned on to that.’

You’ve worked with ‘Hancock’ director Peter Berg before.
‘He’s been very nice to me. We met on the set of the film “Smokin’ Aces” and he’s obviously been responsible for lots of the good fortune I’ve had lately. I’d work with him again tomorrow and for the rest of my life.’

Who would you play in his new version of ‘Dune’?
‘I suppose I could shave my head and play Sting? Yeah, that could work. Let’s get Peter in here and draw up some papers. No wait, I can’t sing or play the bass. Scrap that.’

How did you cope with acting against a lot of special effects for ‘Hancock’?
‘There were a couple of times that I had to react to Will Smith flying and landing or taking off. That’s something I think I’m quite good at. He had to do a lot more of that than I did, though. He had to pretend to hold a car in the air or to crash through a wall. But, you know, that’s why he gets the big bucks. They don’t pay me enough to pretend like that. It’s very difficult to pretend you’re throwing a car. You should try it.’

You come from a line of more laid-back gag men like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Billy Crystal. Which comics have influenced you?
‘People like Bill Murray are incredible at what they do and are definitely my flavour. Although Will Ferrell, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais are also incredible actors. In their comedy, they make these stupid people feel so real. These guys are really setting the bar very high and I learn as much from them about acting as I do about comedy.’

You have a starring role in Kevin Macdonald’s forthcoming crime thriller ‘State of Play’. Is this something of a change of direction for you?
‘From what I understand, my character is quite a bit different from the UK mini-series. In this new version, my guy is a bisexual leather-wearing fetish club promoter with an Oxycotton addiction. He’s [feigns Cockney accent] “quite a nutter”, as you Brits say. I hear the film is pretty good and I can’t wait to see it.’

Is it a good time to be in a political film in America?
‘It sure is. I think it’s always a good time to be in a political film in America because there’s so much material for comedy. I’m not sure if this film is really making much of a specific comment on our political system, but there are a few things that are current and relevant. I can’t wait to see the real drama unfold, and I sure hope Obama comes out in front.’

And what about this rumoured ‘Arrested Development’ movie?
A vocal minority that saw and liked the original show often ask whether there’ll be a movie. It’s a natural question for people to ask, and there is a desire to do the film and it’s just a question of whether a deal can be made. I hope that they do because I miss those people and miss playing the character of Michael Bluth. It was the greatest job I’ve had in my career thus far, and I’m certain it facilitated all these other roles.’

‘Hancock’ opens Jun 27.

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