Robert Pattinson portrays the former “To Catch a Predator” host in the upcoming film.

Primetime director reacts to Chris Hansen’s criticisms with* To Catch a Predator *catchphrase

Robert Pattinson portrays the former “To Catch a Predator” host in the upcoming film.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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September 3, 2026 3:18 p.m. ET

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Robert Pattinson in ‘Primetime’. Credit:

- *Primetime* director Lance Oppenheim has responded to Chris Hansen’s various criticisms of the upcoming film.

- The dark thriller sees Robert Pattinson portray the investigative journalist during Hansen’s time hosting *To Catch a Predator*.

- Oppenheim said he is “excited” for Hansen to finally see the film in theaters, despite the latter’s skepticism.

Lance Oppenheim is using one of Chris Hansen’s famous catchphrases against him.

The past few weeks have seen the former host of *To Catch a Predator* repeatedly voice his frustrations with Oppenheim’s *Primetime*, A24’s dark thriller that will explore the origins of Hansen’s controversial *Dateline* segment. The journalist has commented on Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of him, questioned “Hollywood’s motive” in making the movie, and named the actor he would have preferred to play him in a biopic. Hansen also recently said he declined an invitation to screen the film in advance, after a disagreement with the studio.

Still, Oppenheim is looking forward to hearing Hansen’s thoughts when *Primetime* finally hits theaters.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever thought I could say this — I’m excited for him to ‘have a seat’ and watch the movie in a movie theater, if that’s where he chooses to watch it,” Oppenheim told *The Hollywood Reporter*, cheekily referencing the line that Hansen used when urging alleged pedophiles to converse with him on* To Catch a Predator*.

Lance Oppenheim; Chris Hansen in ‘To Catch a Predator’.

Gilbert Flores/IndieWire via Getty; NBC

“I hope, when the time comes, that he sees it — and I’m excited to hear what he has to say about it,” Oppenheim added.

Hansen previously had an opportunity to view *Primetime* at a private screening, but has said that he turned it down after being asked to sign a “very restrictive agreement” that barred him from taking legal action against A24.

“The lawyers at A24 wanted me to sign away my rights to my name, image, and brand, essentially, as well as any potential legal rights that would come out of the movie,” Hansen claimed last month. “I couldn’t sign that, so they didn’t show me the film. I went all the way over there… But who’s going to sign something like that?”

Robert Pattinson is out to catch a predator as Chris Hansen in ‘Primetime’ trailer

Robert Pattinson says ‘people are incredibly confused’ hearing him imitate Chris Hansen in public

A source disputed Hansen’s account, telling EW that the journalist was asked to sign a standard pre-premiere NDA, which is typically used to prevent spoilers and protect the studio’s IP by barring audiences from talking about a film ahead of release.

Asked about the incident, Oppenheim said, “I can’t really speak to that because I wasn’t there when that all happened, but I know — and I hope he knows — that this film is an exploration of what this kind of work does to the people who make it.”

Robert Pattinson in ‘Primetime’.

The filmmaker, who gained critical acclaim for his documentaries *Spermworld* and *Some Kind of Heaven*, said *Primetime* is “based on and inspired by the experiences of working inside an extremely dark world 24/7, attempting to do extremely serious journalism, and how that becomes also extremely confusing when you’re tasked with turning it into an entertaining television show.”

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*Primetime* dramatizes Hansen’s time hosting the wildly popular *To Catch a Predator*, which used hidden cameras to capture adults trying to meet underage teens for sexual encounters, after connecting in online chat rooms. The film also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine, and Anna Faris.

Whether or not Hansen treks to his local theater to watch *Primetime*, he’ll be part of the viewing experience for plenty of moviegoers. Hansen will appear in an ad that airs exclusively before screenings of the film, directing audiences to check out his true-crime network, TruBlu.

*Primetime* makes its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 5, and arrives in theaters on Sept. 25.

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Source: “EW Biopic”