Robert Pattinson’s “Primetime” is officially coming to Australian and New Zealand cinemas. The controversial A24 thriller, directed by Lance Oppenheim, is set for release on October 29th.
Inspired by true events, “Primetime” is set in 2006, as Chris Hansen (played by Pattinson), attempts to make television history with “To Catch a Predator,” an NBC series of televised sting operations designed to expose suspected online child predators.
The local release announcement comes alongside a rare behind-the-scenes look at Pattinson’s original camera test, filmed by Oppenheim and cinematographer David Bolen, showcasing the actor’s transformation into the television personality.
Check it out below.
The film also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine.
The film marks Oppenheim’s narrative feature directorial debut, following his work on documentaries including “Some Kind of Heaven” and “Spermworld.” He also collaborated with Nathan Fielder on the forthcoming Elizabeth Holmes documentary, “You Can See Everything.”
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“Primetime” premiered at the Venice Film Festival before opening in US cinemas on September 25th, where it debuted in second place at the box office with US$8.49 million. However, its release has not been without controversy, with Hansen repeatedly criticising the film and Pattinson’s portrayal of him.
As previously reported, Hansen described the film as “so detached from reality” after attending a screening, questioning its depiction of his work and the events surrounding the original series.
“It was so bizarre and so in-and-out of reality,” he said. “Obviously, I’m not objective because the character is, you know, me, but it was so detached from reality or anything I’ve experienced then or now doing the investigations. I’m not sure what the point of it was.”
Hansen also criticised Pattinson’s performance, describing the film’s version of himself as “so detached, so unhinged, so dark, so unlikeable.”
The film draws inspiration from a 2009 Esquire article, “Tonight on ‘Dateline’ This Man Will Die,” which examined the death of Texas assistant district attorney Louis William Conradt Jr., who died by suicide during a police operation connected to the series in 2006.
In a subsequent interview with Variety, Hansen called the film a “complete work of fiction” and revealed he was considering legal action against A24 over its depiction of him.
Pattinson, meanwhile, has expressed hope that Hansen will eventually appreciate the performance. “I would hope the amount of inspiration his character has given a lot of people for years is some kind of compliment,” the actor previously said.
“Primetime” opens in cinemas across Australia and New Zealand on October 29th.