Jason Bateman, also known as Justine Bateman's brother and more familiar to television audiences as Michael Bluth on the now-defunct Arrested Development, is hot commodity these days.  While his claim to fame has primarily been for his work in front of the camera, Bateman has been in demand of late for his skills behind the lens.

Most recently, Bateman was tapped to direct his first pilot, “Do Not Disturb,” which subsequently became the lone live-action comedy to be picked up by FOX.  On the heels of his pilot directorial triumph, Bateman has just signed a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV that officially locks him in to produce and direct scripts for them for a year.

The year-long contract effectively gives the same network that produced Arrested Development dibs on anything and everything their former star creates, conjures and goes on to develop under his own F+A production outfit.  The pact was a direct result of the former Arrested Development star's impressive first outing as director of a pilot.

"He did an excellent job on the pilot visually, brought great energy and enthusiasm to it and, as an actor, he really understands how to talk to and motivate actors," 20th Century Fox TV co-chairman Gary Newman remarked.

"Dana and Gary have always made me feel so welcome in their house, and getting my own room now is an exciting start for F+A Prods.," Bateman joked about the office space he and his company stand to get as part of the deal.

On a more serious note, Bateman revealed that he plans on going from actor to creator/producer in like fashion as Ron Howard, his boss on Arrested Development.

"I'm an avid consumer of television, and I've got varying tastes.  It's an ambitious and long-term goal," Bateman, who also has several major film releases opposite the likes of Will Smith, Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck in the offing, admitted.


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
(Image Courtesy of MSN)