Why Chris Hansen refused to watch Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ at A24

Chris Hansen has revealed that he left a private screening of Robert Pattinson’s Primetime without watching the film after refusing to sign an agreement presented by A24.

The veteran journalist travelled to A24’s offices for a scheduled 10am screening of the Lance Oppenheim directed drama on August 20, ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The film is inspired by Hansen’s work on To Catch a Predator, the hidden camera investigation that became one of the most recognisable programmes associated with his career.

According to Hansen, the legal paperwork went beyond what he considered a normal screening agreement. He said his lawyers had reviewed the document and advised him against signing it, claiming it sought rights connected to his name, image and brand as well as potential legal rights arising from the film.

Hansen said he ultimately decided that he could not accept the terms. As a result, he left the A24 offices without seeing the movie.

A source close to A24 offered a different characterisation of the situation, saying Hansen had been asked to sign a standard non disclosure agreement used for preview audiences. Such agreements are commonly intended to prevent spoilers and protect unreleased intellectual property.

The disagreement is particularly notable because Hansen had previously indicated that he was expecting to see Primetime. He had discussed the planned private screening days earlier during an appearance on the Serialously With Annie Elise podcast, saying he would watch the film before giving his assessment of how his career had been portrayed.

Hansen has stressed that he has no financial stake in the project and was not involved as a consultant. He also said his concern was not primarily about receiving payment, but about why the studio approached him with the paperwork after production had already taken place.

Primetime is written by Ajon Singh and directed by Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut. The story focuses on Hansen in 2006 as To Catch a Predator expanded from a recurring Dateline NBC segment into a primetime programme. Pattinson portrays Hansen and also serves as a producer through his Icki Eneo Arlo banner.

The supporting cast includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Bokeem Woodbine, while former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker appears as himself. The film is being presented as inspired by true events rather than as a conventional biopic of Hansen.

Hansen said he has not seen any part of the completed film and therefore cannot yet judge how accurately it depicts him or the events surrounding To Catch a Predator. He noted that the trailer already suggests the story has been dramatised.

The original television franchise ran from 2004 to 2007 as part of Dateline NBC. Hansen and the programme’s production team worked with decoys posing as minors to confront men who arrived at sting locations.

Primetime is scheduled to premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival before opening in US cinemas on September 25. Until then, Hansen’s first viewing of the film appears likely to happen under ordinary theatrical circumstances rather than during the private screening arranged by A24.

A24 declined to comment on Hansen’s account.