
Cast of Black Rabbit: Jude Law, Jason Bateman & Full List
Netflix’s Black Rabbit puts two Oscar-nominated actors in the same frame — and it’s well worth the watch. Jude Law and Jason Bateman play estranged brothers running (and fighting over) a New York City restaurant named after their old band, pulled into the criminal underworld when Bateman’s character can’t pay off a loan shark. The limited series dropped on Netflix on September 18, 2025, and has drawn solid reviews for its lead performances despite a dark, relentless tone.
Lead Actor: Jude Law as Jake Friedken · Co-Lead: Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken · Supporting Cast: Cleopatra Coleman as Estelle · Release Platform: Netflix · Premiere Year: 2025
Quick snapshot
- Exact salary figures for Jason Bateman
- Detailed ethnicity background for singer Raye
- Announced with leads: 2022 (Wikipedia)
- Filmed: April–September 2024 (Wikipedia)
- Eight episodes total (ELLE)
- Limited series — no season 2 planned
- All eight episodes now streaming on Netflix
Key Facts
Here’s what the verified record shows for Black Rabbit across production, cast, and reception.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Series Type | TV Mini Series |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Top Cast | Jude Law, Jason Bateman |
| Setting | New York City restaurant scene |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Release Date | September 18, 2025 |
| Filming Period | April–September 2024 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 68% |
| Metacritic Score | 63/100 |
| Directing (First Episodes) | Jason Bateman |
Which singer is in Black Rabbit?
Raye role details
British actor Sope Dirisu, who plays Wes in Black Rabbit, is both an actor and a recording artist. In the series, Wes appears as a successful recording artist who becomes an investor in the Black Rabbit restaurant. The role is a natural fit given his dual career in entertainment.
Dirisu’s previous credits include Gangs of London and Slow Horses, establishing him as a versatile performer in both film and television (Cosmopolitan entertainment coverage).
The production brought together Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Sope Dirisu, and Dagmara Domińczyk as confirmed cast in March 2024, with additional casting for Chris Coy, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Odessa Young, and Robin de Jesús announced in April 2024.
Filming took place entirely in New York City between April and September 2024, giving the series an authentic urban atmosphere for its restaurant-drama-meets-crime-thriller narrative.
Sope Dirisu’s dual career as musician and actor adds an extra layer of authenticity to a character who is himself a recording artist navigating the restaurant’s high-stakes environment.
Which person is Jules in Black Rabbit?
Jules character actor
There is no character named Jules in Black Rabbit. The question likely refers to Wes, played by Sope Dirisu, who appears as a recording artist investor in the restaurant. This mix-up may stem from the series’ ensemble cast or similar name confusion.
For viewers looking for Wes specifically: Sope Dirisu brings authenticity to the musician character given his own background in entertainment, and the role serves as a bridge between the criminal underworld and the legitimate restaurant business.
Sope Dirisu’s casting as a musician playing a musician adds natural chemistry to the role. His scenes with Cleopatra Coleman’s character Estelle create one of the show’s more grounded relationships.
Is Black Rabbit worth watching?
Pros and cons
Black Rabbit earns its watch for the performances alone. Jude Law brings his trademark polish to a restrained, ambitious restaurateur, while Jason Bateman digs deep into a relapse storyline with surprising emotional weight. Both are Golden Globe and Emmy Award winners with decades of acclaimed work, and their chemistry makes the brotherly feud compelling viewing.
The 68% Rotten Tomatoes score based on 62 reviews and the Metacritic score of 63/100 based on 24 critics both indicate generally favorable reviews, with critics specifically praising the lead performances (Rotten Tomatoes review aggregation).
Upsides
- Law and Bateman deliver standout performances
- Authentic New York City setting and restaurant atmosphere
- Eight-episode limited series with tight pacing
- Strong supporting cast including Troy Kotsur as loan shark
- Jason Bateman directed first two episodes
Downsides
- Relentlessly dark tone throughout
- Graphic violence (including finger amputation scene)
- No episode-by-episode synopsis available yet
- Series may feel overwrought for some viewers
The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus notes: “Elegantly plated but over-seasoned with grit, Black Rabbit’s unrelenting edginess can be off-putting but Jason Bateman and Jude Law’s committed performances make for a satiating enough meal” (Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus).
Is Jason Bateman’s hair real in Black Rabbit?
Bateman transformation
Yes, Jason Bateman grew out his hair and beard for the role. The intentional physical transformation helps ground Vince Friedken as a man who has let himself go during his struggles with addiction and estrangement from his brother.
Bateman is no stranger to transformation — the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor is known for his ability to disappear into roles, and this physical change is part of his commitment to playing the relapse arc convincingly (ELLE character analysis).
Beyond acting, Bateman directed the first two episodes and serves as executive producer. His hands-on creative involvement gave him significant control over Vince’s characterization, including wardrobe and appearance choices.
Main Cast of Black Rabbit
Jude Law as Jake Friedken
Jude Law delivers a controlled, ambitious performance as Jake Friedken — the buttoned-up restaurateur who built the Black Rabbit into something successful after his brother Vince left. Law’s previous credits include The Holiday, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Fantastic Beasts, and this miniseries marks his first major Netflix starring role (ELLE character analysis).
Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken
Jason Bateman portrays Vince Friedken, Jake’s older brother and former co-owner who struggles with addiction. Bateman directed the first two episodes and serves as executive producer on the project (Wikipedia production details). As a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner known for Ozark and Arrested Development, he brings considerable dramatic credentials to the role.
Cleopatra Coleman as Estelle
Cleopatra Coleman portrays Estelle, the interior designer for the Black Rabbit and girlfriend of Wes (played by Sope Dirisu). Coleman has appeared in Dopesick, Clipped, and Infinity Pool, bringing experience in both drama and thriller genres (ELLE character analysis).
Amaka Okafor as Roxie
Amaka Okafor plays Roxie, the head chef at the Black Rabbit restaurant. Her previous credits include Bodies, Greatest Days, and The Responder, establishing her as a versatile talent in British television (ELLE character analysis).
Supporting cast
- Troy Kotsur as Joe Mancuso — the major New York City loan shark whose debt pulls the brothers into the criminal underworld (Wikipedia cast list)
- Robin de Jesús as Tony — the sous-chef at the Black Rabbit (Wikipedia cast list)
- Chris Coy as Babbitt — Mancuso’s right-hand man (Wikipedia cast list)
- Dagmara Domińczyk as Val — Jake’s ex-wife and mother to their son Hunter (Wikipedia cast list)
- Abbey Lee as Anna — bartender at the Black Rabbit (Wikipedia cast list)
- Odessa Young as Gen — Vince’s estranged adult daughter (Wikipedia cast list)
Troy Kotsur’s casting as the loan shark Joe Mancuso is particularly inspired — the CODA Oscar winner brings unexpected vulnerability to the villain role, making Mancuso more than a simple villain.
Elegantly plated but over-seasoned with grit, Black Rabbit’s unrelenting edginess can be off-putting but Jason Bateman and Jude Law’s committed performances make for a satiating enough meal.
— Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
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Jude Law and Jason Bateman lead Black Rabbit as the Friedken brothers, where essential cast details reveal an array of stars and newcomers fueling the thriller’s family secrets.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Black Rabbit based on a true story?
No, Black Rabbit is not based on a true story. It is an original fictional crime thriller created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman for Netflix.
Did Jason Bateman write Black Rabbit?
No, Jason Bateman did not write Black Rabbit. He serves as lead actor and executive producer, and directed the first two episodes, but the series was created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman.
Is Jason Bateman sober in real life?
Jason Bateman has spoken publicly about maintaining a sober lifestyle. He has been open about his commitment to recovery but does not extensively discuss personal details in interviews.
What is Raye’s ethnicity?
Raye’s ethnicity details are not publicly confirmed. The character Wes is played by British actor Sope Dirisu, who is known for his work in Gangs of London and Slow Horses.
How much did Jason Bateman get paid for Black Rabbit?
Specific salary figures for Jason Bateman’s role in Black Rabbit are not publicly disclosed. As an executive producer and award-winning actor, he likely commanded a substantial salary, but exact amounts remain private.
Is ‘Black Rabbit’ Based On A Real New York City Restaurant?
No, Black Rabbit is not based on a real New York City restaurant. The fictional Black Rabbit restaurant serves as the central setting for the series about estranged brothers pulled into the city’s criminal underworld.
Who is Wes in Black Rabbit?
Wes is played by Sope Dirisu, a British actor and recording artist who appears as a successful musician and investor in the Black Rabbit restaurant. He is also in a relationship with Estelle, played by Cleopatra Coleman.