01 September,2026 04:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Robert Pattinson in Primetime. Pic via YouTube
Robert Pattinson is stepping into the shoes of a real-life television journalist for Primetime, and Indian audiences will soon get to see the actor take on the unusual role on the big screen. PVR INOX Pictures, in association with Lionsgate Play India, has announced that the psychological crime thriller will release in Indian cinemas on September 25.
Directed by Lance Oppenheim, Primetime marks his narrative feature debut. The film is set in 2006 and draws inspiration from the controversial television programme To Catch a Predator, which became known for its hidden-camera investigations and confrontations with people suspected of targeting minors.
Pattinson plays journalist Chris Hansen as shown in the Primetime trailer, who is determined to create a television format that could change the way crime stories are reported. What begins as an ambitious attempt to expose alleged predators soon raises more complicated questions about where investigative journalism ends and entertainment begins.
The film puts Pattinson at the centre of a story built around ambition, journalism and the public's fascination with crime. As Hansen, he is shown navigating the pressure to produce compelling television while dealing with the consequences of turning real investigations into something designed for mass consumption.
The role also gives Pattinson an opportunity to move away from the kind of characters audiences may traditionally associate him with. His involvement extends beyond acting, with the actor also serving as a producer on the film.
Rather than simply recreating the mechanics of the television investigations, Primetime appears to examine the larger ethical questions surrounding them. When real crimes become television entertainment, who benefits from the exposure? And how much can a journalist push the boundaries in the pursuit of a compelling story?
Oppenheim arrives at his first narrative feature after establishing himself through documentary filmmaking. His experience in the non-fiction space adds another interesting layer to a film that deals with the relationship between reality, media and spectacle.
Alongside Pattinson, the cast includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine and Anna Faris.
With its 2000s setting, real-world inspiration and Pattinson taking on both the lead role and producing duties, Primetime looks set to offer more than a conventional crime thriller. The film turns the camera towards the people documenting crime themselves, examining what happens when the pursuit of justice also becomes a pursuit of television ratings.
Primetime releases in Indian cinemas on September 25, presented by PVR INOX Pictures in association with Lionsgate Play India.
