Primetime Landed Robert Pattinson After a Bizarre Four Loko-Fueled Pitch

Robert Pattinson’s decision to star in Primetime came after a strange late-night pitch involving Four Loko. The actor originally joined the A24 film only as a producer, but Lance Oppenheim convinced him to act in it.

The director had always believed Pattinson was right for the part. However, he was not initially planning to appear in the film as its lead. The actor’s interest in Ajon Singh’s screenplay and Oppenheim’s creative vision eventually opened the door to a bigger role.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the director said, “There was one meeting we had about the script, and screenwriter Ajon Singh and I had stayed at his house until 2:00 in the morning, and we had brought Four Lokos and gummies and some other stuff that kind of reminded us of the show on the way over.”

Oppenheim added, “I think he was confused at first, but then he sort of got it, and we all sat around. We tried drinking the Four Lokos, but it tasted, for me at least, it was too gross. So I didn’t consume all of it.”

The moment Robert Pattinson finally decided to join Primetime

Robert Pattinson’s casting in Primetime took another step after that meeting. Lance Oppenheim and Ajon Singh spent several weeks revising the screenplay with a stronger creative direction. They wanted to push its fever-dream qualities while drawing inspiration from Oliver Stone and Brian De Palma.

Later, when Pattinson did not respond for several days, Oppenheim became concerned. The director admitted that he thought the project might have fallen apart. The actor eventually FaceTimed Oppenheim after signing on for Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama alongside Zendaya.

The director recalled Pattinson saying, “I’m gonna do The Drama, and I’m going to do your film.” Oppenheim compared the moment to LeBron James’s announcement of his move to the Miami Heat in 2010. He also said the decision put pressure on him to “rise to the occasion.”

Robert Pattinson plays Chris Hansen in Primetime, which explores the 2006 era of To Catch a Predator. The cast also includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, and Bokeem Woodbine. The film is set to release in theaters on September 25.

Source: Comingsoon.net