A24 Unveils Trailer for Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ as Chris Hansen

A24 has established itself as a champion of filmmakers willing to explore the uncomfortable aspects of American culture, and its latest project may be one of the studio’s boldest endeavors yet. As the film gears up for its high-profile festival debut, A24 has revealed a film that has been quietly generating excitement since it was first announced in 2024.

Robert Pattinson continues to craft an unpredictable film career, seamlessly transitioning between blockbuster franchises and unique, auteur-driven projects. In this latest role, he portrays a real television personality whose legacy remains hotly debated nearly two decades after his show first aired.

A24 has dropped the official trailer for ‘Primetime’, a drama directed by Lance Oppenheim, featuring Robert Pattinson as ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen, ahead of the film’s world premiere in competition at the Venice International Film Festival. While a teaser was released back in May, this marks the first full-length glimpse of the project, which also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers in her acting debut.

The film’s official logline states: “In 2006, ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.” This description directly references the real Dateline NBC series, which aired from 2004 to 2007 and utilized hidden-camera sting operations to confront adult men who arrived expecting to meet minors after engaging in online conversations with decoys posing as children.

The show’s legacy is highly contentious, particularly following a 2006 incident where Rockwall County assistant district attorney Bill Conradt died by suicide as police and the show’s crew approached his home with search and arrest warrants, despite Conradt never having met the decoy in person. This controversy, along with broader ethical questions surrounding the show’s methods, appears to be central to what ‘Primetime’ aims to explore dramatically.

In the trailer, Pattinson delivers Hansen’s iconic catchphrase, “I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC — and you’re about to be a part of television history,” while also posing a more introspective and unsettling question that hints at the film’s psychological depth: “What would have happened if I wasn’t here?” This blend of confidence and self-doubt suggests that the film seeks to delve deeper than merely recreating the show, instead questioning the man and the media machine behind it.

‘Primetime’ marks director Lance Oppenheim’s first narrative feature after establishing a career focused on documentaries that examine unconventional aspects of American subculture, including ‘Some Kind of Heaven’, ‘Spermworld’, and HBO’s ‘Ren Faire’. Oppenheim co-wrote the screenplay with Ajon Singh, and the film was shot in New Orleans in early 2025 under the working title “Bluefin Tuna” before its true identity was unveiled.

Pattinson also serves as a producer on the project alongside Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Fred Berger, Brighton McCloskey, Lars Knudsen, and Tyler Campellone, with production handled by Range Media, Icki Eneo Arlo, and Square Peg. The project arrives amid a busy year for Pattinson, who has roles lined up in ‘The Drama’, ‘The Odyssey’, and the upcoming ‘Dune: Part Three’, though industry buzz has already identified ‘Primetime’ as his strongest potential awards contender.

With its Venice premiere scheduled for next month and a wide theatrical release planned for September 25, ‘Primetime’ is set to be one of the fall’s most discussed and divisive releases.

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