Screenwriter Ajon Singh Credits Robert Pattinson and A24 for Turning Unread Spec Script into Box-Office Success
Ajon Singh's spec script "Primetime" went from being ignored by studios to a $42 million domestic hit after Robert Pattinson agreed to produce and star, with A24 financing the film.
Screenwriter Ajon Singh spent years struggling to find a buyer for his spec script "Primetime," a fictionalized account of former Dateline NBC journalist Chris Hansen. After the script was passed around without being read, actor Robert Pattinson obtained a copy, discussed it with Singh, and agreed to produce the film. Pattinson later accepted the lead role, prompting A24 to finance the project with a $15 million budget.
Singh and director Lance Oppenheim rewrote the Hansen character, adding a mystical, avenging-angel tone. The film opened on September 24 and has earned $42 million domestically, with a majority of the opening-week audience under age 30. Critics have described it as a dreamy exploration of justice and exploitation, while Hansen has publicly criticized the portrayal.
Singh, 31, previously supported himself with Uber driving and assistant jobs before securing mentorships with television writers and a manager. He wrote the script in two weeks after extensive research on Hansen’s videos and podcasts. The project moved quickly once Pattinson and Oppenheim became involved, leading to a production start without a lead actor attached.
During filming, Singh served as an executive producer and lived on set in New Orleans, collaborating closely with the director and cast. The movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has generated further opportunities for Singh, including a forthcoming Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse spin-off with Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya.
"I’ve basically gone from being not viable in the marketplace to being viable in the marketplace," Singh said, noting that the success of "Primetime" changed industry perception of his work.