#casting against type

Jason’s character has “the ability to talk his way out of anything. The teachers would have thought butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He could talk his way into a girl’s pants, and he was probably a guy who lived by his wits. That person is really dangerous because they have the ability to shape-shift.”

“I knew I needed that guy to be very likable when we first entered the movie – unthreatening, trustworthy. It’s like, ‘Who do we like? And who is going to be more interesting when he becomes a jerk when we stop to see the true nature of his character?’… [Jason has] got everything he needs to do to make this movie sing. And I just love watching him.”

–  Joel Edgerton on why he cast Jason Bateman against type as Simon in “The Gift;” shown on set with Bateman