PRIMETIME, the new film from director Lance Oppenheim starring Robert Pattinson, will be presented in Competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival before arriving in Italian cinemas on October 15, 2026, distributed by I Wonder Pictures.
Based on a true story, the film goes back to 2006 and the rise of journalist Chris Hansen through To Catch a Predator, the controversial television format built around undercover operations and hidden cameras used to confront alleged predators.
As the show became a national phenomenon and Hansen became one of television’s most recognizable figures, the line separating journalism, justice and entertainment grew increasingly difficult to define. PRIMETIME explores that collision between news, spectacle and television voyeurism, while looking at the power of media and the effects of success.
Robert Pattinson Leads the A24 Production
Alongside Robert Pattinson ( The Odyssey, The Drama, Dune: Part Three, The Batman ), the cast includes Merritt Wever (Birdman, Marriage Story ), Skyler Gisondo ( Superman , Booksmart, The Social Dilemma ) and singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers.
The film is produced by A24, with Ari Aster also among its producers. Oppenheim directs from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.
Ahead of its Venice presentation, I Wonder Pictures has released the first teaser trailer and teaser poster, beginning the film’s Italian campaign ahead of its theatrical debut on October 15.
For PRIMETIME, the real-life subject already carries considerable weight. A name like Chris Hansen brings almost automatic value to the screen: for audiences familiar with To Catch a Predator, it immediately recalls a particular moment in television history and the debate surrounding the transformation of crime, journalism and confrontation into primetime entertainment. With Robert Pattinson at the centre of that story, the film has a strong hook well before audiences enter the cinema.
