Jason Batemanplays the villain in Netflix’sCarry-On, and though it might be a surprising role for some, it won’t be for those familiar with the nine-year-old horror movie he starred in. Jason Bateman is best known for his comedic roles, but throughout his career, he has covered different genres. Bateman’s acting career began in TV in the early 1980s when he played James Cooper Ingalls inLittle House on the Prairie, and in 1987, he made his proper film debut when he played Todd Howard in the fantasy comedyTeen Wolf Too.
Jason Bateman rose to fame when he played David Hogan inThe Hogan Family, becoming a teen idol in the 1980s. Bateman’s most notable roles to date are Michael Bluth in the comedy seriesArrested Developmentand Martin Byrde in Netflix’sOzark. In film, Bateman’s latest project is Netflix’s action thrillerCarry-On, alongside Taron Egerton. In it, Bateman plays the big villain, a role that might be surprising to some, but not to those who watched the 2015 psychological horror movieThe Gift.
Jason Bateman’s Villain Is One Of The Best Parts Of Carry-On
Jason Bateman’s Performance Stands Out In Carry-On
Carry-Onfollows Ethan Kopek (Egerton), a TSA officer at the Los Angeles airport who, after asking his boss for a promotion as his girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), is pregnant, is assigned to the baggage-scanning lane. Ethan is handed a seemingly forgotten earbud and is instructed to put it on, through which a man, simply referred to as the “Traveler” (Bateman), gives him clear instructions: Ethan has to let the Traveler’s man pass inspection regardless of what he sees in his suitcase, and if he tries to do anything to stop him, the Traveler’s people will kill Nora.
Carry-On: The Villains’ Plan, Members & What They Actually Wanted Explained
The criminal conspiracy in Netflix’s Carry-On is absolutely massive, and here is who was involved, what their plan was, and what happened to everyone.
The Traveler isn’t revealed right away, and it’s not until Ethan is finally able to spot him at a nearby restaurant that Bateman makes his first full appearance inCarry-On. Although the Traveler mostly stays away from action and simply gives instructions to Ethan, he feels like a real threat – he doesn’t have to yell or anything, and Bateman’s calm voice actually makes the Traveler even more menacing and disturbing.Bateman’s Traveler doesn’t need big action scenes to be scary, and while this has been seen as “against-type” for Bateman, it’s the same villain style he brought inThe Gift.
Jason Bateman Proved He Could Play A Great Villain In The Gift
In 2015, Jason Bateman starred inThe Gift, written and directed by Joel Edgerton.The Giftfollows Simon (Bateman) and Robyn Callem (Rebecca Hall), who relocate to Los Angeles after Robyn’s miscarriage and Simon getting a new job. One day, they come across Gordon “Gordo” Moseley (Edgerton), Simon’s old high school classmate, who begins to drop in unannounced and leave gifts for them – from bottles of wine to koi fish for their pond. After a disturbing visit to Gordo’s supposed home, Simon tells him to stay away from them, butGordo begins to act even creepier and crosses all boundaries.
Simon is the charming, discreetly manipulative, but still very dangerous type of villain.
While Gordo is the main villain inThe Gift, there’s a big twist and very disturbing reveal about Simon and his past connected to Gordo that makes him a villain. However, unlike Gordo, who is a typical stalker villain, Simon is the charming, discreetly manipulative, but still very dangerous type of villain, who is able to cover his own tracks with lies and by relying on his natural charm. Bateman goes from a likable character the audience would root for to the type of character that should be avoided at all costs, and one that could easily entangle anyone in his lies and disturbing plans.
The shift in Jason Bateman’s character inThe Giftis the best proof that he can be a great villain, more so when given a well-written and developed character. Surely,Carry-On’s Traveler is the typical bad guy in most ways, butBateman’s natural charm is what makes him even more disturbing, as you wouldn’t expect a man like him to be about to kill hundreds of people on a plane.
