Actor Jason Bateman is also a phenomenal director (he won an Emmy for “Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series” with Netflix’s “Ozark”) and is next getting behind the camera for Shut In, the spec script by first time scribe Melanie Toast that New Line acquired in September, Deadline reports.
The spec is an edgy thriller in the vein of Panic Room, in which a single mother is held captive by her violent ex, with her two young children left at risk. She must do everything to protect them and survive.
Interestingly, Batman won’t star in the movie.
Deadline explains that Bateman had been developing to direct a film based on the Hasbro board game Clue, teaming with Ryan Reynolds at Fox/Disney, and while that project is still alive, it would have been too much for Bateman to get it done and get back to his Netflix series. Then he found Shut In, a contained thriller he fell for quickly, and one that is a better fit for his schedule. They’re negotiating, but sources tell the site that the film is on course for a production start in the first quarter of 2020.
Aggregate and its principals, Bateman and Michael Costigan, will board as producers, alongside Farah Films’ Dan Farah, Vertigo’s Roy Lee and Cinestate’s Dallas Sonnier.
Exec producing are Cinestate’s Amanda Presmyk and Danielle Cox, Farah Films’ Andrew Farah and Vertigo’s Miri Yoon. Richard Brener, Daria Cercek and Josh Mack will oversee for New Line.
