Chris Hansen, the broadcaster known for hosting To Catch a Predator, has criticized the new A24 film Primetime, calling its portrayal of events a “complete work of fiction.” The movie stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen, whose Dateline NBC investigations confronted adults who believed they were meeting underage children.
Hansen disputes film’s accuracy
Hansen, 67, told Variety that while having Pattinson play him might ordinarily seem flattering, “the way it was done is certainly not flattering.” He claimed that virtually everything in the film was fictionalized beyond his name, some catchphrases, and its grounding in real events.
Directed by Lance Oppenheim, Primetime draws inspiration from a 2009 Esquire article about a controversial chapter in To Catch a Predator history. That involved Louis William Conradt Jr, an assistant district attorney who died by suicide in 2006 as police attempted to serve a warrant at his Texas home during an investigation linked to the programme.
Dispute over events and character
Hansen strongly disputes the film’s interpretation of what happened and its portrayal of the programme’s team as pushing the investigation for ratings. He said nobody involved wanted Conradt’s death to occur and argued that the programme had been transparent at the time.
Hansen was also unimpressed by Pattinson’s interpretation, describing the character’s exaggerated appearance and mannerisms as “over the top.” He questioned why filmmakers used his real identity if they intended to depart so dramatically from reality, suggesting his name carried commercial value after decades of building his career.
He hasn’t taken Pattinson’s involvement personally, calling the 40-year-old “a very good actor.” Hansen said former Dateline colleagues had contacted him after seeing how their work was depicted, with some unhappy about the characterisation of the production team. He insisted he had never behaved towards colleagues in the aggressive manner shown on screen and suggested filmmakers may have avoided consulting him because his recollections wouldn’t fit their story.
Legal review and response
Hansen revealed lawyers are examining the situation, though he stressed he hasn’t made a decision about whether to pursue anything against A24. He also joked that the controversy has produced an unexpected benefit: he bought cinema advertising for TruBlu, his streaming platform, to run before screenings of Primetime across the US.
Despite his objections, he isn’t telling viewers to boycott the film. Instead, he wants audiences to remember one thing when Pattinson appears on screen: “They need to know that it’s completely fiction,” he said.
