Jonathan Lipnicki, the child star everyone remembers from“Jerry Maguire”and“Stuart Little,”is 35 now and nearly unrecognizable in his latest role. He stars in“Primetime,”a psychological crime thriller about the making of NBC’s“To Catch a Predator.”Lipnicki plays a man caught by host Chris Hansen while attempting to meet an underage boy, and the role includes a full-frontal nude scene. Robert Pattinson steps in as Hansen.
Lipnicki has been candid about how intimidating the part was, saying he follows the belief that if something in art scares you, you should probably do it. It’s a bold pivot for someone who won a Critics’Choice Award at age five and later became a favorite in the“Stuart Little”films. He’s also spoken openly about being bullied and being told he was a has-been who would never book again.“Primetime”marks only his second adult film to receive a theatrical release.
The movie is already sparking conversations about child star reinventions and the ethics of dramatizing a show built on real sting operations. Love it or hate it, Lipnicki is not playing it safe anymore.
Would you take a role that scared you if it meant completely changing how people see you? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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