Jude Law Crime Thriller Netflix: Release Date & Details
Thriller miniseries have become increasingly popular over the past few years, with Netflix releasing some of the best. In fact, just this year alone, the platform has released Missing You, Adolescence, and The Survivors, among others, all of which have been major successes. Now, fans can expect another success with Black Rabbit, a crime series from the creators behind Yellowjackets, Ozark, Macbeth, and more. Starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman, the 8-part series will be released on September 18th and is described as a “New York City-set drama that dives into the chaotic lives of two brothers.”
With an all-star cast and several directors on board, Black Rabbit will be one of the most talked-about series this fall. Alongside Law and Bateman, the series will star Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Odessa Young. Behind the camera, Bateman has directed the first two episodes, with Yellowjackets’ Ben Semanoff and Macbeth’s Justin Kurzel, who previously worked with Law on The Order, also directing a few episodes. With multiple directors at the helm, each episode is likely to bring its own unique style and rhythm, keeping viewers hooked all the way to the finale.
What Will Black Rabbit Be About?
With less than a month to go, Netflix has been open about what viewers can expect from the series. The show will be set against the backdrop of New York City’s nightlife, following two brothers pushed to their limits by family loyalty and the drive for success. Jake Friedkin (Law) is the magnetic owner of Black Rabbit, a restaurant and VIP lounge on the verge of becoming the city’s hottest destination. But when his brother Vince (Bateman) unexpectedly reenters the business, old wounds resurface and new threats emerge, jeopardizing everything they’ve built. Black Rabbit is described as a gripping blend of suspense and character study, exploring how even the strongest brotherly bond can upend lives and everything around them. Speaking with TudumBateman explained:
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 series is created and executive produced by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for Youngblood Pictures, with additional executive producers including Bateman and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films; Law and Ben Jackson for Riff Raff Entertainment; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Justin Levy for Range; and Andrew Hinderaker, Zac Frognowski, David Bernon, and Erica Kay. Along with Bateman, Semanoff, and Kurzel, Laura Linney has also directed a few episodes. The show is a reunion for Bateman and Linney, who previously collaborated as co-stars, producers, and directors on Netflix’s Emmy-winning series Ozarkalongside Semanoff, who also directed the show.
Black Rabbit Seems Like the Perfect Follow-Up to Ozark
Without a trailer, it’s hard to determine how similar the two shows will be. However, given that Bateman, Semanoff, and Linney are behind much of Black Rabbit, this almost guarantees that three of Ozark’s biggest names will bring at least some of the same creative aspects to the show. Linney, a four-time Emmy winner, had never directed a film or TV episode professionally before Ozark season 4. She is credited with directing episode 11, Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin’which became one of the series’ best episodes. Bateman bringing Linney on to direct two episodes of Black Rabbit speaks volumes about their history and collaborative rapport from Ozark.
Last month, first-look images were released, which show a suited Law and scruffy Bateman tending bar and running through the streets of New York. One thing that can be said from the first-look images and synopsis of Black Rabbit is that Bateman is taking on a role unlike his usual parts. Known for playing the straight man in comedies and the disciplined figure in thrillers like Carry OnBateman was deliberately cast against type, a decision confirmed by the series’ co-showrunner, Zach Baylin. During an interview with Vanity Fairhe explained:
We’ve collectively as an audience spent so much time with Jason over the 30, 40 years he’s been on TV. That idea of him as this buttoned-up, very controlled personality was really exciting to play against.
With Bateman taking on such an unexpected role, Black Rabbit has the potential to stand out. Thrillers thrive on keeping audiences off balance, and seeing Bateman as a disheveled and unpredictable character promises to deliver just that. The series is further elevated by the pairing of Jude Law and Bateman for the first time, alongside talents like Amaka Okafor and Troy Kotsur. Even these early details make Black Rabbit one to be excited for. The series also arrives when thrillers are enjoying a resurgence, from Netflix’s Under a Dark Sun to Apple TV+’s Prime Targetpositioning Black Rabbit to capitalize on the genre’s momentum.
Despite its release next month, Netflix and the creative team behind Black Rabbit have been surprisingly quiet about the show. A trailer, or teaser, has yet to be released, and beyond the synopsis, very little is known about what fans can expect. That said, with the minds behind some of the best thriller and crime series in recent history helming the project, it can be assumed that the show will not disappoint. Cast and director comments also inspire confidence in the show, with Law promising a “very interesting world, I hope [audiences] are hooked by the complicated, loving, volatile relationship of these two brothers.” Thankfully, with a September 18 release date, viewers won’t have long to dive into the tangled family drama of Vince and Jake and uncover the secrets that threaten their world.