Chris Hansen Responds to Robert Pattinson Playing Him in New Movie ‘Primetime’

The upcoming thriller Primetime is already generating buzz following its first trailer, particularly due to Robert Pattinson taking on the role of former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen. Hansen has now shared his thoughts on the casting, and his response was both brief and somewhat uncertain.

During a recent interview with NewsNation, journalist Jesse Weber asked Hansen directly about Pattinson’s casting. The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, seems to explore the media landscape surrounding Hansen’s work on the NBC program Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator, which aired segments aimed at exposing alleged child predators through sting operations.

When shown the trailer, Hansen appeared surprised. He remarked, “What? There’s a movie trailer? What will they think of next?” His reaction indicated that he had not been closely following the marketing efforts for the project.

Weber then inquired if Hansen had any prior knowledge or involvement with the film. Hansen responded cautiously, acknowledging that he was aware something was in development. He stated, “We had heard that there was something like this in the works. They reached out to me this week, and I’ve been asked not to talk about it a great deal at this point.”

He did not confirm any creative input or consultation on the film.

In the same interview, Hansen briefly commented on the trailer itself. While he refrained from giving a full review, he described it as “very dramatic” and mentioned that he would likely discuss the film in more detail at a later time when permitted.

The trailer for Primetime features Pattinson in a serious and tense role. At one point, his character delivers a line that closely resembles Hansen’s real-life television persona, including the iconic introduction style used on Dateline NBC. The film also stars actors Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and musician Phoebe Bridgers, and it appears to take a more fictionalized approach to the media scrutiny and ethical dilemmas surrounding televised sting operations.

In the teaser, Pattinson’s character is heard stating, “What would have happened if I wasn’t here. You see how this looks, right? At the end of the day, a man must be held accountable for the decisions that he makes, would you agree? Do you watch television? Well, there is something you should know. I’m Chris Hansen, with Dateline NBC, and you’re about to be a part of television history.”

To Catch a Predator originally debuted in 2004 as part of NBC’s Dateline. The show became notorious for its undercover sting format, capturing individuals arriving at locations under the impression they were meeting underage individuals. Many segments resulted in arrests and ignited national conversations about online safety and law enforcement tactics.

The new film Primetime is set for theatrical release this fall, though an exact date has yet to be revealed. As excitement builds around Pattinson’s portrayal and the film’s subject matter, Hansen’s cautious reaction adds an intriguing layer to the project.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!