Jason Bateman is reflecting on his “full-circle” moment with Ron Howard.
In a new clip from the forthcoming season of Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, the Zootopia 2 star recalled a time when “things were not going well for my career.” That’s when he learned a valuable lesson from watching one of Howard’s interviews.
“So I’m watching Ron Howard be interviewed, and he’s so famously gregarious and friendly and sort of, he would admit, kind of a geek that he’s so nice,” Bateman, 56, told host David Letterman.
He added, “And he’s the most successful guy in the world and I’m thinking, ‘My God, if I could ever get any ounce of success or relevance or access again, the best part of that capital would be, I can be as nice as I want to be and it’s never going to be misinterpreted for being overly eager or desperate or thirsty for the job.'”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Bateman then discussed his experience being tapped to work alongside Howard, 71, on Arrested Development — for which Howard served as executive producer and narrator.
“Cut to, I get this job on Arrested Development where it’s Ron Howard’s show,” Bateman said. “And I had just one-on-one [time] with him at dinner and I let him know, not only what that interview planted in me, but then what his show gave to me and now is giving me the opportunity to be exactly what he was… So it was just such a beautiful full circle for me with him.”
Letterman, 78, later told Bateman that he loved his story, sharing that “many of us, myself on top of that list, looking for great moments that change my life, I don’t know, I have to go here and there looking.”
He added, “But it’s so nice that you have this life-changing moment.”
The experience, Bateman said, “helps me be and behave who I am today. Because like, with any of us, you hit the bottom, if you can hit if a few times, and it makes you even more appreciative of the moments of opportunity that come your way,” he said. “That’s why I work so hard now.”
Bateman previously shared the story in a February interview on the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast, revealing the Howard interview was part of an episode of Charlie Rose. During the conversation, Howard was being “as kind as he is,” Bateman said. “Not only his example provided this North Star for me, but the actual show itself gave me the capital I was reaching for, hoping for,” he said of Arrested Development.
The actor led Arrested Development as Michael Bluth during its five-season run from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2019.
Letterman’s Netflix talk show, which launched in 2018, will continue with its latest season on Tuesday, Dec. 16 with conversations with Michael B. Jordan, MrBeast and Bateman. Letterman appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Dec. 10 to promote his forthcoming interviews, sharing a clip of himself and Bateman having batting practice at Dodger Stadium. Adam Sandler joined him for a special episode earlier in December.
The sixth season of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
