Jason Bateman says he won't pick acting or directing first
Jason Bateman does not consider himself an actor or a director first. On Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast, the 57-year-old said he has always lived in "both worlds at the same time," drawn to directing because early acting roles let him study cameras, sound, lighting, and editing on set. Industry coverage, including an IMDb headline dubbing him this year's Emmy overachiever, has renewed interest in how Jason Bateman balances both crafts.
Key Takeaways
- Bateman told the Awards Circuit Podcast he has never mentally separated acting from directing.
- Child roles on Little House on the Prairie and The Hogan Family gave him space to observe technical production work.
- He said he is "enormously grateful" to still be working in Hollywood after decades in the industry.
- His latest directing project is Netflix comedy The Cackling of the Dodos with Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson.
- He cited the golden rule as career advice for anyone navigating fame or public leadership.
Does Jason Bateman consider himself an actor or director first?
He does not pick a side. Bateman told Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast that acting and directing "are in both worlds at the same time, but they kind of always have been."
That overlap is why he pursued the "official job of directing," he explained. Because he started acting young, the work became comfortable enough that he could watch and learn from the crew around him.
"Acting at an early age became so comfortable for me that I was able to really observe all the incredible work going around me," Bateman said. "All the technical work of the camera and sound and lighting and what might be happening with editing later. So I've always thought about all of that — what a team it takes."
Why does Jason Bateman say he is 'enormously grateful'?
Beyond the actor-director question, Bateman used the podcast to reflect on longevity in a volatile business. He told Variety he is "enormously grateful" that he is still employed in Hollywood.
First finding fame as a child on Little House on the Prairie and The Hogan Family, Bateman noted that experience has taught him a hard truth: "the best people are not guaranteed employment."
Yahoo Lifestyle Canada and Film-News.co.uk both highlighted those remarks as part of a broader career check-in tied to his recent behind-the-camera work.
What is Jason Bateman directing next?
Bateman said he has just directed The Cackling of the Dodos, a dark comedy heading to Netflix. Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson brought him the script and asked whether he would direct them in it.
"I didn't even really need to read it, when you get that kind of call from those two guys," Bateman said. He described the plot as a Coen Brothers-style story about two farmers who find a dead body in a grain bin and create more trouble trying to dispose of it.
What advice did Jason Bateman share on the podcast?
Asked for his favorite piece of guidance, Bateman kept it simple. He pointed to the golden rule — treat others as you would want to be treated — as especially important for people dealing with fame or any public-facing leadership role.
"This sounds a bit earnest and probably a bit cliche," he admitted, "but it really is true, and something that's so needed for anybody that's got the kind of complicated thing of fame and having a public job."
For full reporting on his remarks, see coverage at Film-News.co.uk.