Tom Bateman On Portraying A Psychopath In ‘Based mostly On A True Story’

Peacock’s Based mostly On A True Story is a hilarious, off-the-wall satire on society’s obsession with true crime. Within the story, Los Angeles is terrorized by the West Facet Ripper, portrayed by Tom Bateman (13 Lives), a serial killer who has left a path of lifeless our bodies across the metropolis.

Within the eight-episode dramedy, Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) stars as Ava Bartlett, a pregnant spouse and true-crime-obsessed realtor who hasn’t had a lot luck promoting a house shortly. She’s married to Nathan, performed by Chris Messina (Air), a former tennis professional who suffered an harm that ended his profession.

The down-on-their-luck couple faces a mounting pile of unpaid payments and an overflowing rest room when Bateman’s Matt Pierce, a captivating plumber, saves the day. When Ava discovers Matt is the killer, she convinces Nathan to begin a true-crime podcast with him. One caveat: there may be to be no extra killing! One can’t make such a cope with the satan…

With laugh-out-loud one-liners and Cuoco, Messina, and Bateman’s spot-on supply of them, Based mostly On A True Story is the proper four-hour escape.

In a latest interview, Bateman talked about how a lot enjoyable that they had making the present. He additionally stated he took the position critically and did his homework earlier than beginning.

To organize, Bateman learn Jon Ronson’s e-book “The Psychopath Check: A Journey Via the Insanity Trade.” What stood out to him was Ronson’s fascinating descriptions of the psychopaths he interviewed. “They’re in jail serving a number of life sentences for essentially the most abhorrent crimes towards folks, however while you meet them, they’re charming. They’re humorous. They appear to care about folks. One in every of these guys could be very loving to his mom.”

Bateman then talked about how psychopaths cowl up their darkness. “They put on these masks, and so they put on them for therefore lengthy and so effectively that it virtually turns into, via osmosis, part of their persona.”

As for his character, Bateman condemns his conduct. “What defines this man is that he murders folks purely as a result of he desires to. He finds it enjoyable; it offers him a way of energy over somebody, which I believe is among the worst crimes you would commit.”

There have been a couple of must-haves for Bateman with Matt, who has joined that listing of lovable serial killers alongside Tony Soprano and Dexter Morgan. Like his predecessors, Matt is a father. “I keep in mind saying early on that I wished him to be a great dad.”

In a single scene, Matt takes his younger son to the grocery retailer, and the viewer sees how form and loving he’s. “What was good in regards to the writing is that in the identical scene of him being a great father, being cheeky and enjoyable together with his child, he additionally finds his subsequent goal. That scene alone was simply so fascinating to do. Nearly each scene was that. He’s this enjoyable, charming man who desires to be pals with Nathan and be on this little trio, however on the identical time, he murders folks. He is so many alternative issues. There was simply no finish to his juicy riches.”

Bateman loved performing with Cuoco and Messina. “I’d get to play these thoughts video games with them. I’d virtually have a look at these two youngsters out of their depth. This world of darkness, homicide, and cover-ups is the place Matt lives. So, being the bizarre mum or dad determine to those two children attempting to navigate their method via that was enjoyable. Taking part in these scenes the place I’d attempt to terrify them one second, seduce and flatter them the subsequent, after which be their buddy in one other in that bizarre, twisted method was so enjoyable.”

Bateman recollects first studying the script and pondering it was such a loopy premise for a collection. “It’s such an enormous, out-of-the-box thought. Nothing was out of bounds for me to do as we have been filming. I may swing so massive, and the piece holds it.”

Again to his character as a great father, Bateman doesn’t really feel this redeems him in any method. “Possibly I’m a bit too black and white with this, however I believe the flexibility to harm somebody and homicide somebody is such an abhorrent factor, significantly whether it is one thing you’re pushed to do via lust, need, and vainness. I don’t assume it’s excusable or comprehensible on any stage.”

The collection comes from Craig Rosenberg, Jason Bateman, and Michael Costigan. Rosenberg (The Boys and Gen V) serves as showrunner, government producer, and author. Bateman and Costigan government produce.