Ajon Singh, a 31-year-old screenwriter, experienced a significant career breakthrough following years of industry rejection and financial struggle. Singh spent years working as an Uber driver and in various assistant positions while developing his screenwriting craft, describing himself as having been labeled “left of center” and unmarketable by industry gatekeepers. Despite his determination, producers and studios repeatedly declined to engage with his work.
Singh’s turning point came when producer William Iannaccone optioned a 2007 Esquire article about To Catch a Predator and connected with Singh to develop it into a screenplay. Singh conducted extensive research into the subject matter, reviewing Hansen’s videos and podcasts before writing the script in two weeks. However, the spec script languished without interest from major studios and decision-makers.
The project gained momentum when actor Robert Pattinson obtained a copy of the script and agreed to produce it. During a casual evening at Pattinson’s Los Angeles home, the actor improvised ideas about how to reimagine the protagonist, steering the character in a more mystical, philosophical direction than Singh’s original political thriller approach. Singh incorporated Pattinson’s suggestions during a five-day rewriting period, and Pattinson subsequently committed to starring in the film alongside his producing role.
A24 released the completed film on Sept. 24, with a production budget of $15 million. The movie has grossed $42 million domestically to date, with audiences skewing significantly toward younger viewers—69 percent of opening weekend attendees were under age 30. The film received critical praise as an exploration of justice and exploitation themes, though the real-life subject Hansen has indicated potential legal action against the studio. Singh’s sudden industry success has led to additional projects, including involvement in a Spider-Verse spinoff.
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