Robert Pattinson is taking on the role of controversial television figure Chris Hansen in the upcoming A24 film Primetime, following Hansen‘s involvement with the Dateline series To Catch a Predator, along with the production of the reality TV series.
Primetime opens in theaters on September 25 and draws on real people and events inspired by the 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,” while presenting a dramatized account.
Ahead of the film’s premiere, anyone looking to find out more information on the true events behind the story have come to the right place!
Is Primetime based on a true story?
Yes, Primetime is based on a true story. It is a biographical film from director Lance Oppenheim based on the previously mentioned 2007 Esquire article. It goes into the production of To Catch a Predator, starring Robert Pattinson as Hansen, with Merrit Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers playing supporting roles.
Who is Chris Hansen and what was To Catch a Predator?
To Catch a Predator was an American reality show that aired on Dateline NBC and Hansen was the show’s host. It centered on undercover sting operations to catch predators who would impersonate underage people online in the hopes of luring them to their home.
Hansen would lead the eventual confrontations as they set up a sting house and a hidden camera to catch the adults coming over to meet with someone they believed to be a minor.
What real events inspired Primetime?
In 2008, To Catch a Predator was canceled after a Texas assistant district attorney named Bill Conradt committed suicide.
Conradt was caught talking to and exchanging photos with a member of the Perverted-Justice watchdog group impersonating a 13-year-old boy. He fatally shot himself as the show’s camera crew and police arrived to serve him a search warrant. His estate later sued Dateline for $105 million and settled out of court.
Hansen recently shared his thoughts on the incident.
How accurate is Primetime?
Since Primetime hasn’t been publicly released yet, it’s impossible to gauge exactly how accurate the movie is, but we do know that while it’s based on a true story, the film is also heavily fictionalized.
What has Chris Hansen said about the movie?
Hansen previously said he hasn’t watched the movie yet, but has said he wasn’t consulted for the film and believes it to be an “insult.”
“I think it’s an insult to the thousands of men and women who work hard every day to protect children from predators,” Hansen shared (via People). “They turn something that is very positive, very challenging and not without risk into what is essentially a horror film.”
That said, he did say he had “no issue” with Robert and thinks “he’s a great actor and a nice guy,” but believes the studio put him in a “difficult position” by not reaching out to him.
“I think it’s because the studio and the director didn’t want to know the truth. They had a notion of the film they wanted to create, and they wanted to benefit from the use of my name,” Hansen expressed.
Here’s what Robert had to say about Hansen‘s reaction to him and the movie.
Primetime opens in theaters on September 25.
Posted To:A24 Chris Hansen Movies Primetime Robert Pattinson
