Best known for being absolutely hilarious in front of the camera, Jason Bateman is finally about to make his feature directorial debut in Bad Words, which will be making its world debut at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival this year.
Bateman is not just behind the camera, but takes the leading role as well. And with the announcement that it will premiere at TIFF comes the first image of the actor/director in the lead.
Jason Bateman directs and stars in this raucous comedy about a cranky, foul-mouthed, fortysomething high-school dropout who, through a registration loophole, enters a national children’s spelling bee and ruthlessly sets out to destroy his pint-sized competition.
Starring alongside him is a great cast, led by Allison Janney, Philip Baker Hall, Kathryn Hahn, Rohan Chand, Ben Falcone, and Rachael Harris.
Bateman is directing from a script written by Andrew Dodge, who also makes his feature debut with the film.
Until now, Bateman’s credits as a director have been at the helm of a handful of TV episodes, most notably helming the great episode of Arrested Development, Afternoon Delight. As a big fan of everything he does, it goes without saying that I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s like behind the camera for a full-length feature.
Bad Words will be making its debut to the world this September at TIFF, and if it’s as good as I’m expecting, then it hopefully won’t be long before it heads into cinemas. With any luck, it will be with us by spring/summer next year, at the latest.
