Jason Bateman's Black Rabbit Hops into Emmy Buzz as SmartLess Goes Mobile

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Jason Bateman is making major headlines this week thanks to the much-anticipated Netflix limited series Black Rabbit, starring opposite Jude Law. The streamer unveiled the official trailer on August 20, causing a surge of buzz on social media and across entertainment news outlets. Black Rabbit, premiering September 18, 2025, is a gritty New York City-set drama about two estranged brothers drawn back together amid criminal chaos. Bateman not only acts but directs episodes of the series, sharing creative duties with Laura Linney, Justin Kurzel, and Ben Semanoff. Commentators have noted the strong awards potential for both Bateman and the show, and its propulsive story about family, ambition, and trauma is already dominating fall TV preview lists. The Los Angeles Times featured Bateman prominently in their coverage of TIFF 2025, where he appeared with Jude Law and creative partners for press rounds and photo shoots, cementing Black Rabbit as one of the most anticipated series launches of the year. Collider, TVLine, and Just Jared all highlighted his return as one of the top draws on Netflix in September.

On the business side, Bateman’s role as a media entrepreneur is also in the spotlight. TM Forum Inform reported on the launch of SmartLess Mobile, a new mobile virtual network operator founded by Bateman along with his podcast co-hosts Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. The celebrity-backed MVNO leverages their podcast brand and is part of a wider trend of entertainers turning to telecommunications, combining direct-to-fan engagement with business innovation. This move extends Bateman’s presence beyond acting and directing, positioning him as a player in the rapidly evolving mobile business space for the first time in his career.

Social media has been ablaze with reactions to both Black Rabbit’s trailer and Bateman’s business pivot, especially on X and Instagram, where the official Netflix accounts and prominent entertainment reporters have circulated clips and behind-the-scenes images. Photos from the Toronto International Film Festival, posted by the Los Angeles Times, showed Bateman with Jude Law, further fueling speculation about awards season attention. There were no confirmed reports of new film roles or additional public appearances, but his podcast SmartLess continues to chart high, and last week he generated headlines for a viral anecdote on Conan O’Brien’s podcast, revealing that Matt Damon once pitched himself to play Michael Bluth in an Arrested Development movie, a project Bateman says is now definitively off the table according to Entertainment Weekly.

No controversies or unsubstantiated rumors have surfaced in recent days. The developments around Black Rabbit and SmartLess Mobile represent the most significant biographical moves for Bateman as 2025 enters awards and launch season, signaling both creative ambition and expanding business horizons.

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