Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka Turn Up for DTF St. Louis Premiere After Sobriety Confession
jason bateman stepped out with his wife, Amanda Anka, at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles for the premiere of his new dark comedy DTF St. Louis, a rare public date night that followed his recent disclosures about getting sober ahead of their 2001 wedding.
Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka on the red carpet
The couple, who tied the knot in 2001, posed for photos Tuesday at the DGA Theater Complex, each smiling as they stood arm in arm; Bateman, 57, wore a black suit over a matching black crew-neck shirt, while Anka, 57, chose a red gown with gold detailing and frequently looked up at him in photos.
Sobriety, the ‘negotiations’ and timing
Bateman has said he chose to get sober ahead of his wedding because his drinking had created tension in their relationship. He told The Hollywood Reporter that he and Anka held “negotiations” about when the “spigot” of his partying would turn off, and recalled telling her he thought his sobriety’s ETA was six months away but that he wanted to “land this plane now” to ease the strain.
He has described the period of getting sober as part of a concentrated run of change alongside his wedding and a career breakthrough: he told Esquire that his sobriety, wedding and the role that revived his career all occurred within “12 to 24 months. ” Bateman has also said he quit smoking and later described himself as California sober.
DTF St. Louis premiere and the project’s cast
The premiere promoted DTF St. Louis, a dark comedy centered on a love triangle gone wrong after one person ends up dead. The series’ ensemble includes Linda Cardellini, David Harbour, Pedro Pascal and Peter Sarsgaard, and the Los Angeles premiere offered one of Bateman’s rare public outings while he continues to discuss his past partying and recovery.
Bateman is also the host of the SmartLess podcast and is father to daughters Francesca, 19, and Maple, 14, whom he shares with Anka; he has said he wanted to get many personal and professional “boxes checked” before becoming a father.
The couple’s appearance at the DGA Theater Complex Tuesday was a clear public moment following Bateman’s recent interview about sobriety, and it put the actor and his family life — including the choices that preceded their marriage in 2001 — back in the spotlight.
Bateman’s remarks about his path to sobriety and the timing around his wedding were part of a recent media conversation that included the Hollywood Reporter interview and a separate discussion with Esquire in December 2025; the Los Angeles premiere at the DGA Theater Complex Tuesday is the most recent confirmed public event tied to DTF St. Louis.
