Chris Hansen, known for anchoring the riveting series To Catch a Predator, is breaking his silence concerning a forthcoming film that encapsulates his controversial tenure as its host.
The new movie, titled Primetime, features Robert Pattinson stepping into the shoes of the investigative journalist who boldly confronted individuals suspected of sexual offenses during meticulously planned sting operations.
To Catch a Predator, a gripping segment broadcast on Dateline NBC from 2004 to 2007, came to life through a collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and the watchdog group Perverted Justice.
Hansen, who is now 66, shared candid revelations on Monday during an episode of the podcast Serialously With Annie Elise. He admitted he has yet to view a preview of the film directed by Lance Oppenheim, which is set to hit theaters next month.
“You know, what’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know, but I’ll find out,” Hansen remarked, expressing his curiosity and anticipation.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives of the film’s distributor A24 for further comment on the story but has not heard back yet.
To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen is speaking out on the upcoming movie about his stint as host of the controversial NBC Dateline segment that aired from 2004 to 2007
Developed in partnership with local law enforcement and the watchdog group Perverted Justice, To Catch A Predator involved Hansen and a camera crew confronting suspected predators caught up in coordinated stings. Above, a still from the show
While a ratings hit, the show garnered controversy amid legal and ethical questions which ultimately led to its 2008 cancellation.
When suspected predators would arrive at a home, they would be greeted by NBC cameras and Hansen, who would try to interview them prior to their arrests by police, often reading back graphic passages from the chats.
In November 2006, a Texas assistant district attorney named Bill Conradt took his own life after police entered his home to arrest him while Hansen and his crew waited outside.
On the podcast, Hansen said he’s only seen the preview for the motion picture, which ‘looks very dramatic’ but is scheduled to attend a private screening of it next week.
‘Until I see the full movie, you know, I as a reporter, it’s sort of silly for me to talk about something that I haven’t seen yet – so I’m going to see it,’ Hansen said. ‘Then I’ll be able to tell you whether I like it or don’t like it, and how dramatized it is.’
He said he did not have a hand in the production of the film but people involved with it reached out to him after it had finished shooting.
‘We had heard, you know, obviously, with all the different properties I have and all the platforms, some of the people who are involved in the management also tangentially have relationships in the Hollywood world,’ Hansen said. ‘So we had heard that this was in the works a couple months ago.
‘They came out and said, “Hey, look, we’re doing this. We’d like you to have some sort of, you know, consideration in terms of helping us with this.”‘
‘You know, what’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know, but I’ll find out,’ he said of Primetime starring Robert Pattinson as himself
On the podcast, Hansen said he’s only seen the preview for the motion picture, which ‘looks very dramatic’ but is scheduled to attend a private screening of it next week
Hansen said he hasn’t been focused on the film as he continues with his own endeavors: ‘I’ve been busy being the real Chris Hansen, so I don’t have a lot of time to focus on the fake Chris Hansen.’
He said that he suspected filmmakers used his name ‘because it helps in a commercial enterprise.’
Hansen said of Pattinson playing him: ‘Obviously they want a commercial endeavor to succeed, and they think this is the way it’s going to succeed – you know, I didn’t get to choose my own guy.’
He said that he ‘had discussions years ago about’ a potential film on the NBC series, and ‘thought Dennis Leary would be a good guy’ to play him in a silver screen adaptation.
Primetime, which also features Anna Faris, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Tony Revolori, is due in theaters on September 25.