Robert Pattinson brings 'Primetime' to London Film Festival
Robert Pattinson told a packed BFI IMAX that the script for 'Primetime' hit like "a grenade" as soon as he read it.
Pattinson introduced the film on stage in London on Sunday night, 11 October, during the London Film Festival, according to Variety. He was joined by director Lance Oppenheim, writer Ajon Singh and co-star Merritt Wever. The festival listing had the screening at 18:00 at BFI IMAX as sold out, according to BFI.
Pattinson stars as former 'To Catch a Predator' host Chris Hansen and also serves as a producer on the film, according to Variety. He said he called Singh the day after reading the script. Then things moved fast. Oppenheim came aboard in less than a week, and the film was happening within two weeks.
That speed is unusual for a cinema release, where scripts can sit for years before a director signs on. For fans, this means 'Primetime' went from first read to active production in a matter of days, not months.
The film first premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation, according to Variety. It is loosely based on the 2007 Esquire article 'Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.' Hansen said after seeing the film that it is a "complete work of fiction."
Former CNN chief Jeff Zucker plays himself in the A24 release, according to Variety. The wider cast includes Wever and Anna Faris, according to BFI, with Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine also listed by A24. BFI lists 'Primetime' as a 2026 release from the United States with a 107-minute runtime.
On the business side, 'Primetime' opened in US theatres on 25 September and has grossed $38 million against a $14.5 million budget, according to Variety. It is set for release in the UK on 30 October. The London screening forms part of the 70th BFI London Film Festival, which runs from 7 to 18 October 2026.
