A24 has released the first trailer for Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen in a crime-TV drama inspired by To Catch a Predator. The film is directed by Lance Oppenheim and follows Hansen in 2006 as he sets out to make television history.
The teaser gives audiences a first look at Pattinson as the Dateline NBC journalist, capturing the early days of the controversial predator-sting format that became a major part of mid-2000s television. It is an instantly intriguing trailer, not least because Pattinson’s voice is almost unrecognisable here, adding another reminder of his range and just how far he can disappear into a role. Rather than presenting the story as a straightforward true-crime drama, Primetime appears to be digging into the uneasy pull of televised crime, where public service and ratings-driven spectacle can become difficult to separate.
Oppenheim makes his narrative feature debut with the film after directing documentary projects including Some Kind of Heaven, Spermworld and HBO’s Ren Faire. Given his background in observational documentary, Primetime feels like a natural fit for a story about cameras and the making of televised reality.
Alongside Pattinson, the cast includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo and Phoebe Bridgers, who makes her feature acting debut. Pattinson also produces through his Icki Eneo Arlo banner alongside A24.
For CultureCues, this is exactly the kind of A24 project that immediately catches our attention. Pattinson playing Chris Hansen is enough to make Primetime stand out, but the subject gives it an even stronger hook. The trailer points to a story about how To Catch a Predator became a TV phenomenon, while also raising questions about the line between exposing crime and turning it into entertainment.
A24 has not yet confirmed an exact release date for Primetime, though the film is expected to arrive in cinemas later this year. Watch the official teaser below.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.