Primate Trailer & Fun Facts
Primate Synopsis:
College student Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) returns to her family's remote home for a visit with her friends. Their peaceful visit becomes a nightmare when the family's beloved pet chimpanzee, Ben, contracts rabies, turning him into a violent and aggressive killer. Trapped and isolated, Lucy and her friends must desperately fight for survival against the devastating primal rage of their former companion.
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Release Date: In theatres January 9th, 2026
Primate Fun Facts:
Inspired by Classic Horror:
Director Johannes Roberts mentioned that the idea for a killer chimpanzee in the movie Primate came from famous horror classics, specifically mentioning Stephen King's Cujo (about a killer dog) and Christine (about a possessed car).
From the House of Horror:
This movie is the first one made under a production agreement between Paramount and Walter Hamada, the former leader of DC Films. Hamada is one of the producers on the film and is famous for his work on big horror series, such as The Conjuring movies.
Academy Award Winner:
The movie features Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur (known for CODA). Kotsur is the first male deaf actor and second overall (after Marlee Matlin) to win an acting Oscar. In Primate he plays Adam, Lucy's hearing-impaired father.
Fantastic Fest Premiere:
The movie premiered at the Fantastic Fest in September 2025 before its wide theatrical release on January 9th, 2026. This early showing suggests the studio believed the movie would be well-received by dedicated horror fans.
The Pool Safe Spot:
The filmmakers decided to use the family's pool as an important location and a safe spot for the characters because of a real fact about chimpanzees: chimps cannot swim and often drown in deep water. This means the pool is one of the only places where the characters are safe from the enraged chimpanzee.
Quick Production:
Filming started on September 16th, 2024, and finished quickly, just a few months later, on November 4th, 2024.