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No, Tom Bateman Isn’t Jason Bateman’s Brother, But Based On A True Story Gives Them A Connection
Warning: The following article contains light spoilers from Based on a True Story. Bateman isn’t the most common last name, and after watching Tom Bateman in Based on a True Story on Peacock, some wondered if the actor was Jason Bateman’s brother, but the truth is that they aren’t related. Aside from (Tom) Bateman, the Based on a True Story cast includes stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Priscilla Quintana, Liana Liberato, and Natalia Dyer in the comedy thriller series. Based on a True Story revolves around a married couple (played by Cuoco and Messina) who start a true-crime podcast when a serial killer named the Westside Ripper begins his reign of terror in Los Angeles.
The twist is that the podcast hosts invite the murderer (Matt Pierce, played by Bateman) to appear on their show after discovering his identity. The Peacock show is yet another deep dive into the world’s fascination with true crime and how far one will go to make a pretty penny. Morals and storylines aside, one question that arises while watching Based on a True Story is if there is a connection between series star Tom Bateman and famous actor Jason Bateman or not.
After digging into both Tom Bateman’s and Jason Bateman’s lives, it appears that the Based on a True Story actor and the Ozark star are not related. While both are talented actors with serious comedy chops (and could be mistaken for siblings based on looks alone), the two Batemans aren’t brothers, and neither are they related in any capacity. In fact, they aren’t even from the same continent.
Tom Bateman was born in Oxford, England, while Jason Bateman hails from New York in the United States of America. Funnily enough, Jason Bateman’s mother is originally from Shrewsbury, England, but no evidence proves there is a familial connection between the two accomplished Bateman actors. However, Tom Bateman and Jason Bateman have worked together in Hollywood.
Jason Bateman Is An Executive Producer On Based On A True Story
While Tom Bateman and Jason Bateman aren’t related, they did meet while working on Peacock’s Based on a True Story. Tom Bateman plays the aforementioned serial killer in the series and Jason Bateman is credited as an executive producer, along with creator Craig Rosenberg, star Kaley Cuoco, Michael Costigan, and Alex Buono. Jason Bateman’s production company, Aggregate Films, co-produced the Peacock series alongside Overlook Productions and Universal Content Productions. So at the end of the day, there is a connection between Tom Bateman and Jason Bateman via Based on a True Story, even though it’s through work and not through their individual families.
