Robert Pattinson is heading back to the theater. A24 has officially secured an early fall release window for Primetime, the upcoming psychological crime thriller starring Pattinson as a charismatic television host. Directed by Lance Oppenheim, the feature will make its theatrical debut in September.
The film dives straight into the messy, explosive origins of the mid-2000s reality television boom. The plot tracks the rise of a Chris Hansen-style investigative journalist. He turns internet chatrooms into network ratings gold by confronting digital predators on live television, a format that eventually spirals out of control.
The project will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this year. Following the official festival lineup announcement on Tuesday, box office trackers are pointing to a September 25 debut for the United States theatrical run. Pattinson is also attached to the project as a key producer.
Primetime explores the heavy ethical fallout of the television network’s production methods. The narrative details how the host collaborated with the online vigilante group Perverted-Justice to secure arrests for the cameras. That aggressive strategy eventually resulted in severe legal backlash, public controversies, and a tragic real-life incident that forced the cancellation of the original sting format in 2007.
A24 assembled a heavy-hitting ensemble cast to surround Pattinson. The roster features Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Bokeem Woodbine, Matthew Maher, and Anna Faris. The film also marks the official acting debut of musician Phoebe Bridgers.
International distribution deals are already locking into place. Lionsgate Play announced earlier this year that Primetime will be included in its initial batch of theatrical-first releases for the Indian market, rolling out concurrently with the North American September launch.
Oppenheim’s Transition from Documentary to Narrative Drama
This release marks a massive career transition for Lance Oppenheim. After building serious critical acclaim in the documentary space with visceral, stylized projects like Ren Faire, Oppenheim is now making his narrative feature directorial debut. The move from crafting heightened documentaries to directing a fully scripted A24 thriller is a major leap.
Oppenheim’s background gives him a specific advantage here. Because Primetime tackles the blurred lines between reality television and actual law enforcement, his prior experience documenting eccentric, real-world power dynamics translates directly to the subject matter. He is essentially weaponizing his documentary toolkit to deconstruct the exact kind of reality television that dominated the early internet era.