Robert Pattinson arrives at Venice this week as both lead actor and producer of Primetime, the narrative feature debut of documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim. The A24 film screens in competition on September 5, in contention for the Golden Lion.
Set in 2006, Primetime follows the production of the reality television series To Catch a Predator. Pattinson plays a character inspired by TV journalist Chris Hansen. The screenplay, by Ajon Singh, draws from the 2007 Esquire article "Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die" by Luke Dittrich, which documented the suicide of Bill Conradt and a contested sting operation that became a flashpoint for broadcast journalism ethics. Merritt Wever plays Hansen's producer, Skyler Gisondo plays Dan Plumb, and Phoebe Bridgers, making her first dramatic film appearance, plays a sting team member. Anna Faris, Bokeem Woodbine, Creed Bratton, and Tony Revolori fill out the ensemble.
Pattinson co-produces alongside Ari Aster. Oppenheim, speaking to the film's intent, said it explores "power, and how power is obtained, and how power is maintained" across broadcast television. In a notable postscript, the real Chris Hansen declined to sign an NDA before a private screening and later purchased pre-show advertising for the film's theatrical run. Primetime opens in U.S. theaters on September 25.
