Primate Director Reveals Original Plan For Different Animal Horror Movie

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The movie Primate focuses on a dangerous monkey, but director Johannes Roberts initially had a different animal in mind for the story. Roberts, known for 47 Meters Down and Resident Evil, created a film about a family whose adopted chimpanzee becomes a threat after being bitten by a rabid mongoose while on vacation in a luxurious Hawaiian home.

Okay, so I just heard about this new movie, Primate, and it sounds really promising! The cast is fantastic – you’ve got Johnny Sequoyah from Dexter: New Blood, Jessica Alexander who was in The Little Mermaid, and even Troy Kotsur from CODA! It premiered at Fantastic Fest and critics are mostly loving it – it’s sitting at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes right now. But the best part? Audiences are digging it too! It’s giving off those classic monster movie vibes, and it actually had a great opening weekend, bringing in $11.3 million – that’s already half of what it cost to make! Definitely one to watch, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Before the release of the film Primate, Ash Crossan from ScreenRant spoke with director Johannes Roberts and stars Johnny Sequoyah and Troy Kotsur. During the conversation, Roberts was asked if he’d seen the documentary series Chimp Crazy while making the movie. He explained that it actually came out while they were filming, and while people have told him he should watch it, he hasn’t had the chance yet.

Roberts jokingly said he’d “had his fill” of primates while making the movie Primate, but admitted he actually finds the animals unsettling, especially as pets. He explained that the film originally wasn’t a horror movie about monkeys at all. About ten years ago, inspired by watching his mother’s dog play around her pool, he first envisioned a story more similar to Stephen King’s Cujo.

I immediately thought that was a great concept, and from there, the idea really began to come together. Then I started thinking about how to make it even more compelling. I’ve always been intrigued by chimpanzees—there’s something about having a wild animal inside a domestic setting that’s both relatable and unsettling. They’re incredibly intelligent, but also capable of surprisingly cruel behavior. That duality really fascinated me, and I felt confident we could create something really engaging with this concept.

Ben The Chimp Is More Practical Than You May Think

ScreenRant asked the actor about their first impression of the script for Primate, wanting to know what their initial reaction was.

When I first read the script, I immediately loved the idea of the kids being trapped in the pool. It was clever because chimpanzees are naturally afraid of water, which added a really interesting challenge. I also appreciated how sign language was woven into the story – it wasn’t just a gimmick, like the old movies where a chimp magically knows sign language. My character’s wife, who sadly passes away from cancer, was an expert in animal behavior. After that, I become Ben’s caretaker, and he really becomes part of our family – like a beloved pet, a member of the household, just like a dog. And then, of course, things take a turn for the worse.

I was completely hooked from the moment I read the script! It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, especially a creature feature centered around a chimpanzee. I kept wondering how they would actually pull it off. It felt wild on paper, and that energy translates perfectly to the screen – it’s a really fast-paced and exciting story. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, both reading and watching.

Getting my scuba certification was tough! We had to tread water for half an hour, which felt like forever. How long did you have to tread water to get certified?

It’s a good question! Whenever the cameras were rolling, we had to stay afloat in the pool. It wasn’t very deep, so between shots we’d just stand around in the water, having coffee and relaxing. But we were in the pool every day for three weeks – long ten-hour days!

ScreenRant asked about the actor who played the chimpanzee, Miguel. They were curious what it was like to work with a real chimpanzee, if he was playful on set, and what it felt like to act alongside him.

It’s funny, when I first saw Ben in costume, he was covered in blood and drool – it was almost hard to watch! But the moment he took off the chimp mask, he was instantly friendly and engaging. He really transforms into the character – he’s a true ‘method chimp’! He has incredible energy and moves with such physicality, almost like a professional dancer. He genuinely looks like an animal when he’s in costume. What’s amazing is that everything you see is real – no CGI or special effects were used. A team of around 50 people supported Ben, and I don’t think this movie could have been made without their incredible teamwork.

Johannes Roberts felt this movie needed to feel very real. He wanted the audience to connect with the character Ben – to initially like and sympathize with him, then to be disturbed by his behavior and ultimately dislike him for his cruel actions. He aimed for an emotional journey where viewers felt personally invested, rather than simply witnessing random violence. He wanted Ben to be actively malicious and enjoy what he was doing. To find someone who could pull that off, they held an open casting call and discovered Miguel, an actor with no prior experience. Miguel was phenomenal, completely immersing himself in the role and becoming genuinely unsettling to be around – he stayed in character even off-camera, making the experience quite uncomfortable for everyone.

ScreenRant asked the creator of the Tusken Raider language for The Mandalorian how it felt to have contributed to such an iconic piece of the show, especially considering their long-time fandom. They were eager to discuss it and even showed off a tattoo inspired by the work.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan – I’ve been hooked since 1977! – it was a dream come true to work on ‘The Mandalorian’. You won’t believe this, but I was actually ‘initiated’ into the 501st Legion, the Star Wars costuming group, by a local Tusken Raider squad in San Diego. So, getting to develop the Tusken Raider sign language for the show? That was unbelievably special to me.

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2026-01-12 23:02