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Nicotine Pact: Robert Pattinson's Path to 'Primetime' Role
20 Oct
Summary
- Robert Pattinson was convinced to star in 'Primetime' with nicotine pouches.
- Director sent 200 nicotine canisters to secure Pattinson for the lead.
- The film earned nearly $50 million worldwide on a $15 million budget.
Robert Pattinson's casting as Chris Hansen in the film "Primetime" was secured through an unconventional method involving nicotine pouches. The actor was initially slated to only produce the project.
Screenwriter Ajon Singh revised the script, and director Lance Oppenheim devised a unique incentive. Oppenheim, aware of Pattinson's nicotine pouch habit and a concurrent U.S. shortage, arranged for 200 canisters to be sent from Canada to Pattinson's Los Angeles home.
This gesture, coupled with the updated script featuring a playful nod to Hansen's name, convinced Pattinson to take the lead role. Director Oppenheim likened the actor's decision to LeBron James joining the Heat.
"Primetime" premiered on September 25 and has performed well at the box office, earning close to $50 million globally against a $15 million production cost. Despite criticism from Chris Hansen himself, who called the portrayal fictional, the film received positive reviews from critics, with Pattinson hailed as a "new kind of movie star."
