Robert Pattinson stars in Chris Hansen biopic ‘Primetime’

The film ‘Primetime’, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Robert Pattinson, dramatizes the career of journalist Chris Hansen and his controversial NBC series ‘To Catch a Predator’. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival, the production is described by Oppenheim as a ‘docufantasia’ that blends factual elements with surreal, dramatized storytelling to capture the media landscape of the mid-2000s.

Chris Hansen has expressed ethical concerns regarding the film, noting that it uses his name and the names of family members in a work he presumed to be fiction. He also criticized Pattinson’s performance as ‘overly dramatic’ and revealed he was blocked from a private screening because he refused to sign a legal waiver regarding his name, image, and brand.

Pattinson responded to these criticisms by stating he hopes the film is viewed as a compliment to the inspiration Hansen’s persona provided. The film explores the era when Hansen became a cultural icon through his undercover investigations into suspected child predators.