Robert Pattinson, who portrays Chris Hansen in the upcoming biopic "Primetime," has responded to remarks made by the real "To Catch a Predator" host regarding his performance. Hansen had previously characterized Pattinson's portrayal in the film's trailer as "overly dramatic" and expressed dissatisfaction with his casting, stating, "I didn't get to choose my own guy."
"Primetime" premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation. Pattinson, speaking at a press conference for the film's premiere, expressed his hope that Hansen would approve of the movie. "Obviously, I hope he likes the movie," Pattinson said, as reported by Variety.
Pattinson also reflected on Hansen's impact, suggesting his character's enduring influence is a form of compliment. "There’s something electrifying about him. I would hope the amount of inspiration his character has given a lot of people for years is some kind of compliment," Pattinson commented. He added that Hansen's presence on "To Catch a Predator" was "magnetic" and that the show's continued relevance 20 years later was due to a "strange alchemy" surrounding Hansen's centering of the program.
"To Catch a Predator" was a segment featured on "Dateline NBC" where Hansen, using adult decoys posing as minors, would confront individuals lured to staged encounters. The show, which ended in 2007, faced ethical questions throughout its run concerning the balance between law enforcement aims and entertainment value.
Hansen, in his initial public comments on the film, questioned the "Hollywood's motive" behind the project. While he had voiced reservations about Pattinson's performance, Hansen also noted that his family found the imitation to be "a pretty good imitation." He had been scheduled to view the film privately and indicated he would reserve final judgment until after seeing the full movie.
Hansen also disclosed that he had engaged in discussions years prior about a potential "To Catch a Predator" movie, at one point suggesting Denis Leary would have been a suitable actor to portray him. However, he clarified that he had been too occupied with his own work as the "real Chris Hansen" to focus on the biopic.
"Primetime" is the first fictional feature film from director Lance Oppenheim, known for documentaries such as "Some Kind of Heaven" and "Spermworld." The film, which also features Anna Faris and Phoebe Bridgers, is slated for a theatrical release on September 25.