Everything We Know About Jude Law and Jason Bateman’s New Series Black Rabbit
The New York City–set drama arrives on Netflix Sept. 18.
The doors of Black Rabbit are almost ready to open, and you’re invited to join New York City’s most exclusive guest list. Starring Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Sherlock Holmes) and Jason Bateman (Ozark, Air), the new limited series is set against the backdrop of the high-pressure New York nightlife scene and dives into the chaotic lives of the two brothers who founded it. You can watch the trailer here.
“It’s a very interesting world,” Law — who, alongside Bateman and creators Zach Baylin (Academy Award-nominated for his King Richard screenplay) and Kate Susman, executive produced Black Rabbit — tells Tudum. “At the heart, I hope [audiences] are hooked by the complicated, loving, volatile relationship of these two brothers.”
Bateman, who also directed the first two episodes, tells Tudum, “It’s really about these brothers who love each other but don’t match — one’s a screw-up, and the other is much more buttoned up. Everybody can relate to that. Everybody’s either got a sibling, or a friendship where you love being with one another, but it’s kind of dangerous; where that person usually gets you in trouble, but they’re really exciting to be around.”
The brothers share one thing: Black Rabbit, the restaurant they founded in Manhattan. “Kate and I were both interested in the idea of a restaurant being this kind of epicenter of a city and a meeting place for all different kinds of people and a second home to others,” co-creator Zach Baylin tells Tudum.
Read on to step behind the velvet rope and learn more about the world of Black Rabbit.
What’s Black Rabbit about?
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s high-pressure nightlife scene, Black Rabbit centers around two brothers who learn just how far family, and the pursuit of success, can push them to the edge. Jake Friedkin (Jude Law) is the charismatic owner of Black Rabbit, a restaurant and VIP lounge, poised to become the hottest spot in New York. But when his brother, Vince (Jason Bateman), returns to the business unexpectedly, trouble soon follows; opening the door to old traumas and new dangers that threaten to bring down everything they’ve built. Black Rabbit is a propulsive thrill ride and character examination about the way an unbreakable bond between two brothers can shatter their world and everything in its orbit.
The series is created and executive produced by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for Youngblood Pictures. Executive producers include Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films; Jude Law and Ben Jackson for Riff Raff Entertainment; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Justin Levy for Range; Andrew Hinderaker, Zac Frognowski, David Bernon and Erica Kay.
Who’s in the cast of Black Rabbit?
- Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Sherlock Holmes) as Jake Friedken
- Jason Bateman (Ozark, Air) as Vince Friedken
- Cleopatra Coleman (Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire, Clipped) as Estelle, an esteemed interior designer
- Amaka Okafor (Bodies, The Responder) as Roxie, an ambitious New York chef
- Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Gangs of London, Slow Horses) as Wes, a prominent musician and entrepreneur
- Dagmara Dominczyk (Succession, The Lost Daughter) as Val, an affluent New York philanthropist and Jake’s ex-wife
- Chris Coy (Bass Reeves, The Peripheral, Women of the Movement) as Babbitt, a low-level bookie
- Troy Kotsur (CODA, Curb Your Enthusiasm) as Joe Mancuso, a local bookie with ties to organized crime and to the brothers’ past
- Abbey Lee (Florida Man, Old, Lovecraft Country) as Anna, a formidable NYC bartender
- Odessa Young (Mothering Sunday, The Staircase, Shirley) as Gen, an East Village tattoo artist with a connection to the brothers
- Robin De Jesus (The Boys In the Band, Tick Tick…BOOM, Welcome to Chippendales) as Tony, a talented NYC chef
- Amir Malaklou (The Old Man, Broadway’s The Kite Runner) as Naveen, an investor in Jake’s businesses
- Don Harvey (We Own This City, The Deuce, Pam & Tommy) as Matt, an old-school Brooklyn bartender
- Forrest Weber (Law & Order, The Blacklist) as Junior, a hotheaded criminal
- Francis Benhamou (Dear Edward, Kinda Pregnant, Prayer for the French Republic) as Lisa Klein, a journalist with New York magazine
- Gus Birney (Shining Vale, Happiness for Beginners, Dickinson) as Mel Whitney, an aspiring actor and host
- John Ales (American Fiction, Painkiller, Euphoria) as Jules Zablonski, a renowned NYC artist
- Steve Witting (Killers of the Flower Moon, Tulsa King) as “Andy,” a credit card processor and moneylender
Can I watch some interviews with the cast?
Let’s get this exclusive party started with the video above as Bateman and Law discuss the main themes of the series and their experiences working on it. Bateman says it all began with “really smart scripts” from Baylin and Susman. “It’s the kind of thing that I really love to do, directorially,” he continues in the interview from set. “It’s moody and dangerous, sort of the thing I did on Ozark.”
Law was immediately “curious and hooked by the very interesting world” of the series. Adding that at Black Rabbit’s heart “is a great love and a great sense of loyalty.”
But there’s also a whole lot of chaos. “We’re not trying to teach any lessons or create some sort of cautionary tale here, but it’s so unsettlingly realistic,” says Bateman.
Can I see photos from Black Rabbit?
Yes! You can take a look at images from Black Rabbit featuring the cast and crew above.
Who will direct episodes of Black Rabbit?
- Bateman will direct Episodes 1 and 2.
- Linney will direct Episodes 3 and 4.
- Ben Semanoff (Ozark, Yellowjackets, The Old Man) will direct Episodes 5 and 6.
- Justin Kurzel (Macbeth), will direct Episodes 7 and 8.
Black Rabbit will be a reunion for Bateman and Linney, who previously worked together on Netflix’s Emmy Award–winning series Ozark as co-stars, producers, and directors, as well as with Semanoff, who also directed the series. It also reunites Kurzel with Law and Baylin: Law stars in, and Baylin wrote, Kurzel’s true crime thriller The Order.
Can I see Laura Linney in action?
Sure! In the behind-the-scenes photos above, you can see Linney directing on set in New York City. “One of the things I love about directing is working with different types of actors and being diagnostic about how to talk to each of them about the work,” Linney tells Netflix. “Different people respond to different language, and I hope I was considerate of that. All of the Black Rabbit actors came to work ready to go. They were open and eager and inspiring.”
When will Black Rabbit be on Netflix?
Black Rabbit opens its doors on Netflix on Sep. 18. Check back for more news on the upcoming limited series.
