Robert Pattinson’s upcoming A24 thriller Primetime is officially going live this fall.
The new film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, is based on the real-life TV show To Catch a Predator, hosted by Chris Hansen. The original series famously featured Hansen and law enforcement officers working with actors to expose adults attempting to meet children online. Robert Pattinson will play Chris Hansen in the movie, which focuses on the height of the show’s popularity in 2006, and he’s also producing it.
The film Primetime is scheduled to be released in theaters across the country on September 25, 2026, as reported by Deadline. This announcement follows its selection for the main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The festival listing indicates the thriller has a running time of 107 minutes.
Primetime chronicles Chris Hansen’s journey to create a groundbreaking television program. It explores how his investigations evolved To Catch a Predator into a widely recognized cultural phenomenon. The show was famous for its undercover sting operations, where Hansen would question individuals suspected of predatory behavior before police arrived. However, the program also faced criticism due to its partnership with law enforcement and the group Perverted Justice.
The movie’s first teaser shows Robert Pattinson transforming into the likeness of the famous investigator, mimicking his look, behavior, and how he conducted interviews. Director David Osit previously documented Hansen and other investigators in his 2025 documentary, Predators, which explored their work.
This film is Oppenheim’s first narrative feature as a director; he’s previously worked in documentaries. He directed Some Kind of Heaven in 2020, which explored life in a large Florida retirement community, and the HBO docuseries Ren Faire, often described as a real-life version of the show Succession.
Ajon Singh, who is also connected to Spider-Punk, penned the screenplay. Robert Pattinson produced the film with Brighton McCloskey through his production company, Icki Eneo Arlo. Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, Lars Knudsen, and Tyler Campellone all contributed as producers. The cast also features Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine, Sean Bridgers, and Anna Faris. This film represents Phoebe Bridgers’ first acting role, following a previous appearance as herself in I Saw the TV Glow.
It’s fitting that Robert Pattinson is starring in another A24 film, as Primetime is his sixth project with the studio. He’s previously worked with A24 on films like The Rover, Good Time, High Life, The Lighthouse, and The Drama (with Zendaya). These films were key in establishing his career after Twilight, so his current role playing someone involved in reality television feels like a natural progression of his work with the studio.
The film Primetime will be released in September alongside popular movies like Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast, DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, Victorian Psycho, Crawlers, and Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame Encore. Being chosen for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival could give Pattinson’s thriller a boost before it opens across the country on September 25th.
2026-07-23 23:58