Chris Hansen is opening up about Primetime, the upcoming film starring Robert Pattinson as a fictionalized version of him. The movie draws inspiration from Hansen’s time hosting To Catch a Predator. However, the 66-year-old says he was not consulted during production and was only contacted after the film was completed.
Chris Hansen said he was not consulted before Robert Pattinson’s Primetime movie was made
Speaking with podcaster Annie Elise on August 17, Hansen shared his thoughts on the film. He said, “A couple of months ago, they came and said, ‘Hey, look, we’re doing this; we’d like you to have some sort of consideration in terms of helping us with this.”
The investigative journalist, who hosted the landmark Dateline NBC segment from 2004 to 2007, said, “My suspicion is that they used my name because it helps in a commercial enterprise. Until I see the full movie, as a reporter, it’s sort of silly for me to talk about something that I haven’t seen yet.”
Hansen said he would attend a private screening and plans to assess the film’s accuracy and dramatization after viewing it. However, he admitted that he had already seen the trailer, which he described as “very dramatic.” Adding, “I’ve been busy being the real Chris Hansen, so I don’t have a lot of time to focus on the fake Chris Hans.”
Reacting to the trailer, Hansen said, “I know [Pattinson] is a very popular actor, and I know the director [Lance Oppenheim] is a popular guy. But I also have some questions: What’s Hollywood’s motive here?”
Regarding Pattinson, 40, taking on his role, Hansen said he wouldn’t have been his top pick. He said, “Obviously, they want a commercial endeavor to succeed, and they think this is the way it’s going to succeed; I didn’t get to choose my own guy.”
Primetime is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival before its theatrical release on September 25. The film, produced by A24, also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, and Bokeem Woodbine.
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