Robert Pattinson's 'Primetime' Explores Infamous 'To Catch a Predator' Phenomenon

Robert Pattinson was struck by the dramatic potential of “Primetime,” a new film that dramatizes the controversial NBC Dateline sting operation “To Catch a Predator” and the events that led to its cancellation. The actor, who stars as host Chris Hansen, felt the story, with its shades of “Network” and “Ace in the Hole,” was ripe for cinematic exploration.

The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, is described as a dark meditation on performance, media, and morality, rather than a straightforward biopic. It arrives amid interest from critics and some controversy, including objections from Hansen himself, who called the film an “insult” sight unseen.

"To Catch a Predator" became a cultural phenomenon in 2006. With assistance from the watchdog group Perverted Justice, the show staged confrontations with individuals accused of soliciting sex with minors online. Actors would pose as underage individuals in staged homes, where the men would be filmed by the Dateline crew, with law enforcement present for arrests.

At its peak, the show averaged around 7 million viewers per episode, elevating Hansen to celebrity status. The program faced significant repercussions in November 2006 when Louis William “Bill” Conradt Jr., an assistant district attorney in Texas, died by suicide as police breached his home while the television crew was present. This incident led to a lawsuit, settled out of court, and prompted journalistic investigations, including one by ABC’s “20/20.” The show was ultimately canceled by 2008.

Pattinson noted the allure of the show's success, stating, “When you get up to a certain, like, level of numbers of viewers or like however much money is involved, suddenly the subject matter, like everything doesn’t matter anymore. … You’re just a hit and like and you’re judged along the same lines, and the same commercial expectation is put on you.”

"Primetime" blends fiction and reality, featuring Merritt Wever as a fictionalized producer under pressure to create popular programming and Jeff Zucker, the then-NBCUniversal TV Group CEO, playing himself.

Pattinson was initially involved in developing the film through his production company. However, as he delved deeper into the story and the character of Hansen, he realized the significant potential of the role.

“Chris was like a serious news reporter,” Pattinson said. “And I think what’s sort of fascinating about the story as a whole was like seeing someone who … you’re a journalist, you’re supposed to be in some ways a passive reporter of what’s going on and suddenly being recast in this thing where you’re not only like front and center of it but you’re kind of, your behavior, it’s setting the tone of the show.”

To prepare for the role, Pattinson spent considerable time watching Hansen's appearances and listening to his podcast, immersing himself in the host's persona. "It’s impossible to, like, play somebody else,” Pattinson remarked.

Hansen has publicly shared his opinions on the film, suggesting Denis Leary as a potential actor for his role and questioning the filmmakers' and distributor A24's motivations. He described the Esquire article that inspired the script as a “bit of a hit piece” and promoted his own true crime streaming network, TruBlu, with preshow advertisements before “Primetime” screenings.

Pattinson acknowledged Hansen's public commentary, saying, “He’s a public person. He is also just being asked about it. It’s kind of, I mean, I get it. But I’m surprised about the level of traction that everything gets.” He added that the continued discussion around the ethics of a nearly 20-year-old television show demonstrates its lasting impact.

The film also focuses on the character of Decoy Dan, an amalgamation of the actors who played the teenage decoys in the staged homes. Skyler Gisondo, who plays Dan, saw the role as a meta-commentary on the tension between journalism and performance, particularly in creating compelling television from sensitive subject matter.

Gisondo expressed initial nervousness about the role, calling it unlike anything he had done before. He took the character's experiences seriously, expressing surprise at audience laughter during moments of Dan's naivete at the film's premiere at the Venice Film Festival. “Having more distance from it now, I see that clearly, just the contrast of how serious this subject matter is and then the outlandishness of the kind of setup of the show,” Gisondo said. “There’s something, I think, heartbreakingly kind of funny about how naive Dan is.”

For Pattinson, the film adds to a busy year, following his roles in "The Drama” and "The Odyssey,” with "Dune: Part Three" still forthcoming, all while continuing to film “The Batman” sequel. He expressed a pragmatic view on the film's reception, stating, “My career has basically been like no one sees my movies. My baseline is very low so everything’s a nice surprise.”