Primate: Release date news, cast details and more about the upcoming horror film by Paramount

The upcoming horror film Primate is set to release in theaters next year, on January 9, 2026.

The film is directed by British filmmaker Johannes Roberts, an expert in horror storytelling. His filmography boasts a plethora of movies in this genre, including Storage 24 (2012), The Other Side of the Door (2016), 47 Meters Down (2017), and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021), to name a few.

This time, he brings us a horror film featuring an adorable chimpanzee in a human family setting. This film is co-written by the director himself, along with Ernest Riera.

Keep reading to find out everything about Primate.

When is Primate releasing?

Primate is set to release on January 9, 2026.

Before its upcoming 2026 release, the film made its debut at the 2025 Fantastic Fest. Upon its premiere, the horror film received a positive critical response. It has garnered a rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 6.9/10 on IMDb.

This film's distribution is handled by Paramount Pictures, and is produced by 18hz Productions. The producers of the film include Bradley Pliz, Walter Hamada, and John Hodges.

The cast of Primate

The film has a cast of talented actors, including Johnny Sequoyah, portraying the character of Lucy. The actor is well known for her work in movies and series, including Among Ravens (2014), Believe (2014), and Dexter: New Blood (2021-2022).

We also have Jessica Alexander, who plays the role of Hannah in the film. Alexander has previously worked on Penny on M.A.R.S. (2018-2020), Get Even (2020), The Little Mermaid (2023), and Fallen (2024), among others.

Here are the rest of the cast of the film:

Troy Kotsur as Adam
Gia Hunter as Erin
Victoria Wyant as Kate
Charlie Mann as Drew
Benjamin Cheng as Nick
Miguel Torres Umba as Ben
Tienne Simon
Albert Magashi
Amina Abdi
Kae Alexander
Kevin McNally
Stuart Whelan

What is the plot of Primate?

The film follows the plot of a family who rescues a chimpanzee named Ben, who appears to be friendly and harmless. The family immensely loves him. However, whilst spending their lush holiday in Hawaii, they find themselves in a hazardous situation posed by Ben's sudden behavioral changes.

It seems that an unknown entity bit the chimp, and ever since then, chaos has entered their lives as Ben started becoming uncontrollably violent and murderous. Upon watching the film, we will finally discover the truth behind "Something's wrong with Ben."

Are you excited about Primate? Tell us in the comments!