Robert Pattinson Set to Star in New A24 Crime Drama Before The Batman Part II

Robert Pattinson is having an immensely busy year. The Twilight star has high-profile projects like Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, A24's The Drama, and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three, all of which are releasing this year, and the highly anticipated return to Gotham in The Batman Part II. As Pattinson continues to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, and while fans eagerly await the second installment of The Batman, Pattinson's newest role might be his most interesting yet.

A24 recently unveiled the first teaser for its new feature film Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim. The dark crime drama stars Robert Pattinson as real-life journalist and host Chris Hansen, chronicling the career of the man behind NBC's infamous To Catch a Predator series, which ran for 20 episodes before being canceled after a subject's death. The trailer shows Pattinson's eerie transformation, and it seemingly has all the makings to be one of the best biopics in recent years. Pattinson will star and produce.

Primetime Looks More Like a Thriller Than a Biopic

Primetime revisits the controversial rise of To Catch a Predator and the media circus that surrounded the series during the mid-2000s. Rather than recreating the sting operations To Catch a Predator used to arrest adult men who are under the impression they're meeting a minor, Primetime seemingly explores the ethics, spectacle, and moral ambiguity behind crime entertainment. Robert Pattinson's creepy transformation comes complete with a near-unrecognizable voice and an unsettlingly restrained performance style. According to the official synopsis, Primetime follows Pattinson's Chris Hansen as he attempts to make "television history" while walking a dangerous line between journalism and exploitation.

The complex role is a perfect fit for Pattinson, who has extensive experience playing morally dubious characters. Merritt Weaver, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers, in her feature film debut, will appear in Primetime in supporting roles. A24 hasn't given a concrete release date yet, but Primetime is currently expected to arrive sometime in fall 2026, with several outlets pointing toward a September release, which means fans will have plenty of Pattinson films to watch before The Batman Part II. Even with only one teaser out, the movie already feels like one of the studio's biggest conversation starters of the year.

A24 Has Another Hit on Its Hands

Primetime's deeply intimate and stylized visual identity could help elevate the movie into one of the best modern biographical crime dramas. Oppenheim's background in documentary filmmaking will likely give the crime drama an eerily realistic and grounded feel, which seems to be exactly what the trailer is aiming for: the early footage has a cold, tense atmosphere that feels more reminiscent of an A24 thriller than a traditional biopic, and Pattinson's performance sits at the center of that unease. Rather than playing a straightforward hero or villain, the actor will portray a man who's seemingly wrestling with fame and morality.

Primetime looks like the exact kind of ambitious, uncomfortable role that Pattinson thrives in. Ever since leaving Twilight, the actor has gravitated toward filmmakers and projects that take creative risks, from The Lighthouse to Good Time. 2026 is Pattinson's year, and if his past incredible roles have not earned him his flowers, his current slate surely will.