British actor Robert Pattinson stars as a scandal-plagued reality television presenter in the dark thriller “Primetime,” according to reporting by Agence France-Presse. The film, which marks Pattinson’s first producer credit, examines the mid-2000s NBC program “To Catch a Predator” and is scheduled to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Robert Pattinson Transforms for Dark Thriller “Primetime”
According to Agence France-Presse, “Primetime” explores the history of the NBC reality series “To Catch a Predator,” which ran from 2004 to 2007. The original show featured presenter Chris Hansen luring individuals to simulated meetings with minors before confronting them on camera. In the independent production from studio A24, Pattinson portrays a character based on the notorious presenter.
The Hollywood Reporter characterized “Primetime” as a probing, darkly surreal immersion into the mid-aughts, noting that Pattinson’s physical and behavioral transformation appears eerie. Directed by 30-year-old filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, the feature represents a departure from traditional studio fare, arriving at the Italian festival as part of its main competition lineup.
Chris Hansen Responds to Pattinson’s Portrayal and Potential Legal Action
Chris Hansen has acknowledged Pattinson’s preparation for the role, praising the actor’s powers of imitation while simultaneously hinting at potential legal action against the film, according to Agence France-Presse. Speaking on the US chat show Entertainment Tonight, Hansen remarked that while the project strikes him as overly dramatic, the trailer demonstrates a capable impersonation.
“Obviously he has practised imitating me, and while I think it’s overly dramatic, I think there is a pretty good imitation there in the trailer,” Hansen stated to Entertainment Tonight, adding that his family agreed with the assessment.
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Pattinson invested in the production of “Primetime” through his own company, Icki Eneo Arlo, positioning him to gain directly from ticket sales and streaming rights as a co-producer.
Venice Film Festival Highlights and Competitive Lineup
The Venice Film Festival features a diverse selection of international projects this year, offsetting a relative absence of major Hollywood studios and American streamers compared to previous iterations, as reported by Agence France-Presse. Among the prominent entries is “Wild Horse Nine,” a dark comedy by British-Irish director Martin McDonagh starring John Malkovich as a cynical CIA agent stationed in Chile ahead of a US-backed military coup.
Documentaries also hold a prominent place in the festival schedule. Feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher are expected to attend the Oasis documentary premiere.
Additionally, the festival schedule includes the premiere of “NAZA,” a documentary directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor focusing on Israeli military actions in Gaza. The directors previously won an Oscar for their 2024 work, “No Other Land.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film “Primetime” about?
“Primetime” is a dark thriller following the premise of the mid-2000s NBC reality program “To Catch a Predator,” starring Robert Pattinson as a presenter modeled after Chris Hansen.
Who directed “Primetime”?
The film was directed by 30-year-old filmmaker Lance Oppenheim in his first feature film.
Does Robert Pattinson have an ownership stake in the movie?
Yes. Pattinson served as a co-producer, investing through his company Icki Eneo Arlo to share in ticket sales and streaming rights.
What other notable projects are screening at the Venice Film Festival?
Other notable entries include Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine,” a documentary on Tesla billionaire Elon Musk by Alex Gibney, a feature on the Oasis reunion tour, and the documentary “NAZA” by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
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