Former child star Jonathan Lipnicki is making waves with a major career shift, taking on a daring full-frontal nude role in A24’s new feature film, Primetime. Best remembered for his wholesome childhood roles in beloved 1990s and 2000s movies like Jerry Maguire and Stuart Little, the 35-year-old actor is stepping far outside his comfort zone.
In Primetime, Lipnicki plays a character known by the online username Crazyfrog73. The narrative of the film explores the tumultuous production and final cancellation of a television show heavily inspired by the real-life reality series To Catch a Predator. During a pivotal sequence in the movie, Lipnicki’s character enters a house and immediately drops his pants in front of a decoy character played by Skyler Gisondo, resulting in complete onscreen full-frontal nudity.
Confronting Career-Defining Fear
Speaking about the intense sequence, Lipnicki admitted that his initial reaction to the script was laughter, which quickly turned into deep apprehension. “I laughed, but it also gave me a lot of anxiety,” he shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s a crazy thing to wrap your brain around. As actors, we pray for dark material and for things we can really sink our teeth into.”
While Lipnicki had previously bared it all for the stage production Lost Girls, he noted that the combination of the character’s dark nature and the physical exposure made this project uniquely intimidating. “Not only are you a pedophile – you’re a naked, full-frontal pedophile,” he explained. Ultimately, he decided to lean into the discomfort, living by the personal philosophy that artists should pursue projects that frighten them.
A New Chapter Away from Hollywood
The bold role coincides with a major lifestyle shift for the actor. Lipnicki recently left Los Angeles behind, spending time driving around the country in a Jeep Wrangler before settling down in Oklahoma, where he currently teaches acting and produces independent projects.
Directed by Lance Oppenheim, Primetime premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 5 before receiving a U.S. theatrical release through A24 on September 25. As Lipnicki continues to evolve professionally, his fearless turn in the film marks a definitive departure from his early child-star days.
