Robert Pattinson is set to portray Chris Hansen, the former host of the NBC television program "To Catch a Predator" (TCAP), in the upcoming A24 biopic titled "Primetime." The film will explore Hansen's rise to fame in the 2000s and the subsequent controversies surrounding his sting operations.
Hansen began his television career in the 1980s as a reporter for NBC affiliate WILX and later became a correspondent for "Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric." He then moved to "Dateline NBC," where he covered significant news events such as the Columbine High School massacre and the September 11 attacks.
In 2004, Hansen started hosting "To Catch a Predator." The show featured undercover sting operations, often collaborating with watchdog groups like Perverted-Justice, to expose individuals suspected of seeking to exploit minors online. In these stings, decoys would pose as minors to lure suspects to a meeting location, where Hansen would confront them, and authorities, if involved, would make arrests. While the show garnered high ratings and became a pop culture phenomenon, it also faced significant ethical and legal criticism regarding entrapment laws and the methods used.
The show's controversial nature drew criticism, with some accusing it of sensationalism and prioritizing ratings over justice. Charlie Brooker, creator of "Black Mirror," famously stated, "When a TV show makes you feel sorry for potential child-rapists, you know it's doing something wrong." NBC also faced a lawsuit from a former producer who claimed she was fired for expressing ethical concerns about the program.
TCAP was ultimately canceled in 2007 after three years. A pivotal event leading to its downfall was the suicide of one of the show's targets, Bill Conradt, in November 2006, shortly after police executed search and arrest warrants at his home while Hansen's camera crew was present. The handling of the operation by police and NBC drew criticism, and a subsequent wrongful death lawsuit brought by Conradt's sister was settled out of court.
Following TCAP's cancellation, Hansen hosted other shows such as "To Catch an ID Thief" and "To Catch a Con Man," but none achieved the same level of recognition. In 2011, Hansen was himself embroiled in a scandal when he was exposed for having an affair with a younger colleague, which led to his wife filing for divorce in 2018. NBC did not renew his contract in 2013, ending his 20-year association with the network.
Hansen later attempted to revive TCAP through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015, which raised $89,000 but failed to reach its goal. Backers later complained about not receiving promised promotional items, leading to threats of legal action. In 2019, Hansen faced larceny charges over a bounced check to a vendor for promotional items, though the charges were later dropped after the debt was paid. He also had a legal issue in 2021 when a judge issued an arrest warrant for his failure to appear in court to present video evidence in a sex-trafficking case, a matter his lawyer stated was resolved.
Currently, Hansen hosts a podcast titled "Predators I've Caught." Regarding the upcoming biopic "Primetime," Hansen has offered a measured response, calling Pattinson's portrayal "a little bit" accurate and "very dramatic."
"Primetime" is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on September 25, with UK and Ireland release dates to be announced.