Pattinson Bribed With 200 Zyn Canisters to Star in 'Primetime' — SkimNews
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- Robert Pattinson was originally set only to produce A24's 'Primetime,' not star in it, until director Lance Oppenheim sent him 200 canisters of Zyn nicotine pouches sourced from a friend in Canada during a U.S. Zyn shortage.
- Oppenheim dropped off the retooled script by screenwriter Ajon Singh with a letter that opened 'Dear Chris Han-Zyn,' after which Pattinson called to accept the role, prompting Oppenheim to liken it to 'LeBron making the announcement that he was joining the Heat.'
- 'Primetime' opened on Sept. 25 and grossed nearly $50 million worldwide against a $15 million production budget, landing on the higher end of box office expectations.
- Chris Hansen, the real 'To Catch a Predator' host whom Pattinson portrays, has publicly attacked the film and Pattinson's performance as a 'complete work of fiction.'
- Critics broadly rallied behind the film, with Variety's Owen Gleiberman calling Pattinson a 'new kind of movie star' possessing 'nervy dyspeptic magnetism' and 'a star for the age of entropy.'
Why it matters: The film more than tripled its $15 million production budget in global box office, delivering A24 a strong commercial return while positioning Pattinson for Oscar consideration in a risky, out-of-type role — a reversal for an actor who initially wanted to stay behind the camera.
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