Johannes Roberts’ Primate Swings Into Theatres This January – Full Trailer Unleashed
Paramount Pictures has finally unleashed the full trailer for Primate, and it is safe to say things are about to get wild, hairy, and deeply unsettling. Set to hit theatres on January 9, 2026, this new horror thriller from director Johannes Roberts promises a trip to the tropics that turns into anything but a vacation.
Roberts, who has carved out a reliable niche as one of the genre’s more unflinching craftsmen, has previously delivered everything from underwater terror in 47 Meters Down to retro mayhem in The Strangers: Prey at Night. Now he is taking audiences deep into primal horror territory with Primate, a film described by early viewers as “an unapologetic blood bath of fun.” And yes, you read that right — this time, the killer is a rabies-crazed chimp. Somewhere, nature documentaries are quietly trembling.
The film, co-written by Roberts and his long-time collaborator Ernest Riera, follows a group of friends whose idyllic tropical getaway becomes a fight for survival. While the trailer keeps much of the chaos under wraps, it does show us enough sun-soaked dread and red-eyed rage to suggest that these poor souls picked the wrong island to sip cocktails on. There is something inherently terrifying about a wild animal gone mad, especially one that looks disturbingly human when it bares its teeth.
Primate stars Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur (CODA) as the weary yet resourceful centre of the story, joined by Johnny Sequoyah (Dexter: New Blood), Jessica Alexander (Amadeus), Victoria Wyant (My Fault: London), Benjamin Cheng, Gia Hunter, Miguel Torres Umba, Kae Alexander, Tienne Simon, Charlie Mann, newcomer Amina Abdi, and Albert Magashi. It is a robust cast for a film that will almost certainly involve running, screaming, and an unhealthy amount of jungle mud.
In recent years, Roberts has shown that he can blend blockbuster polish with old-school horror energy, and Primate looks to continue that streak. The trailer showcases his signature tension-building style — wide shots that make you feel small, sudden bursts of violence, and a strong sense of place. One moment you are admiring the lush scenery, the next you are wishing someone had stayed at home to water the plants.
Behind the scenes, Primate is one of the first fruits of former DC Films head Walter Hamada’s deal with Paramount Pictures, designed to nurture a steady flow of theatrical and streaming horror projects. Hamada produces the film through his 18hz banner alongside John Hodges and Bradley Pilz, while Roberts himself steps in as executive producer alongside Vicki Dee Rock, Nathan Samdahl, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary. It is a strong creative lineup, which might explain why early buzz has been so positive.
The ever-reliable Danny Elfman provides the score, which, if his previous work is anything to go by, will likely make audiences both grin and grit their teeth at the same time. Expect orchestral dread with a side of animalistic chaos.
For Roberts, Primate continues his streak of films that merge pulp energy with grounded human fear. This is a man who has made sharks, masked killers, and viral infection look equally terrifying, and now he is turning his lens on a creature that is, evolutionarily speaking, far too close for comfort. The early reviews suggest a film that balances gallows humour with genuine tension — a mix that sounds like the director at his best.
It is also impossible to ignore how Primate taps into the ongoing fascination with humanity’s place in the food chain. Whether it is the man-eating tigers of Beast or the vengeful animals of Congo, there is something enduringly entertaining about watching humans realise they are not at the top of the ecosystem after all.
So will Primate join the ranks of cult killer-animal classics like Link and Monkey Shines? It certainly looks like it could, provided you have the stomach for simian carnage and the sense of humour to go along with it.
Primate swings into theatres on January 9, 2026, from Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Studios. Watch the full trailer above and prepare to question every cute monkey video you have ever liked online.
