Robert Pattinson Responds to Chris Hansen’s Criticism of 'Primetime' - 'I Hope He Liked The Movie'
Photo Credit: A24
by Chris Tremblay Sep 8
3 MIN READ
Robert Pattinson responded on September 5 to criticism from Chris Hansen about Primetime, the upcoming A24 drama in which Pattinson portrays the television journalist and former To Catch a Predator host.
Pattinson spoke during the Venice Film Festival, where Primetime had its world premiere. The film is directed by Lance Oppenheim and dramatizes Hansen’s work on NBC’s To Catch a Predator, a program that used decoys, hidden cameras and televised confrontations involving adults suspected of attempting to meet minors online.
Asked about Hansen’s concerns, Pattinson said, “Obviously, I hope he likes the movie.”
Pattinson also said he hoped the impact Hansen’s television persona had on viewers and people involved in the subject would be understood as “some kind of compliment” to Hansen.
“I think the more you watch the show, there’s something magnetic about his presence,” Pattinson said, according to USA Today.
Hansen had criticized aspects of Pattinson’s portrayal before the Venice premiere.
In comments reported by Variety, Hansen said Pattinson had practiced his mannerisms and described the performance as “overly dramatic,” while acknowledging that the trailer showed “a pretty good imitation.”
Hansen also said the film’s fictionalized material included statements and actions he did not recognize as his own. “He’s saying things I never said and doing things I never did, and that’s not who I am,” Hansen said, according to the same report.
Hansen emphasized that Primetime is a work of fiction based on real-life events. He said his family had a more favorable view of Pattinson’s imitation than he did.
Hansen had also questioned the decision to use his name and the names of people connected to him in a commercial film. Deadline reported that Hansen had received legal advice suggesting he might have a viable case, although he had not announced a lawsuit.
The disagreement intensified after a proposed private screening of Primetime for Hansen.
Variety reported that Hansen went to A24’s offices to view the film before its Venice premiere but did not complete the screening. Hansen said he objected to signing a nondisclosure agreement because he believed its terms could affect his rights.
As a result, Hansen said he had not seen the completed film before its public festival presentation. His public comments about the movie therefore focused on promotional material and information he had received rather than on a complete viewing.
In an interview reported by Deadline, Hansen said he planned to watch the film before deciding whether he liked it or considered it excessively dramatized. He also questioned whether his name was being used because it could help promote a commercial entertainment project.
*Primetime* follows Hansen during the mid-2000s, when To Catch a Predator became a prominent television program built around hidden-camera stings and on-camera confrontations.
Reuters described the film as an exploration of the boundary between journalism and entertainment. The report said the filmmakers presented the story as an examination of the television industry and the pressures surrounding the production of a high-profile program.
Pattinson is both the film’s lead actor and a producer. Reuters reported that Pattinson had not initially expected to play Hansen, but became more interested in the role as he researched the subject.
The film’s Venice presentation generated strong audience reaction, including a lengthy standing ovation reported by Variety and Deadline.
That festival response reflects the reception at the premiere and does not resolve Hansen’s objections about the film’s accuracy or the use of his identity. No lawsuit by Hansen was reported in the coverage reviewed for this article.
Pattinson’s comments indicated that he viewed Hansen’s television presence as central to the film’s creative appeal.
He said he had watched To Catch a Predator when he was younger and that he had not initially considered the effect Hansen’s presence could have on viewers.
Pattinson did not dismiss Hansen’s criticism or announce any change to the film in response to it. Instead, he expressed hope that Hansen would watch the finished work and respond favorably to the filmmakers’ interpretation.
A24 has scheduled Primetime for theatrical release on September 25. Until Hansen sees the completed film and makes any further response, the public dispute remains centered on his concerns about dramatization and Pattinson’s answer that he hopes Hansen ultimately likes the movie.
Asked about Hansen’s concerns, Pattinson said, “Obviously, I hope he likes the movie.”
Pattinson also said he hoped the impact Hansen’s television persona had on viewers and people involved in the subject would be understood as “some kind of compliment” to Hansen.
“I think the more you watch the show, there’s something magnetic about his presence,” Pattinson said, according to USA Today.
Hansen’s Objections to the Film
Hansen had criticized aspects of Pattinson’s portrayal before the Venice premiere.
In comments reported by Variety, Hansen said Pattinson had practiced his mannerisms and described the performance as “overly dramatic,” while acknowledging that the trailer showed “a pretty good imitation.”
Hansen also said the film’s fictionalized material included statements and actions he did not recognize as his own. “He’s saying things I never said and doing things I never did, and that’s not who I am,” Hansen said, according to the same report.
Hansen emphasized that Primetime is a work of fiction based on real-life events. He said his family had a more favorable view of Pattinson’s imitation than he did.
Hansen had also questioned the decision to use his name and the names of people connected to him in a commercial film. Deadline reported that Hansen had received legal advice suggesting he might have a viable case, although he had not announced a lawsuit.
A Disputed Private Screening
The disagreement intensified after a proposed private screening of Primetime for Hansen.
Variety reported that Hansen went to A24’s offices to view the film before its Venice premiere but did not complete the screening. Hansen said he objected to signing a nondisclosure agreement because he believed its terms could affect his rights.
As a result, Hansen said he had not seen the completed film before its public festival presentation. His public comments about the movie therefore focused on promotional material and information he had received rather than on a complete viewing.
In an interview reported by Deadline, Hansen said he planned to watch the film before deciding whether he liked it or considered it excessively dramatized. He also questioned whether his name was being used because it could help promote a commercial entertainment project.
The Film’s Subject and Approach
*Primetime* follows Hansen during the mid-2000s, when To Catch a Predator became a prominent television program built around hidden-camera stings and on-camera confrontations.
Reuters described the film as an exploration of the boundary between journalism and entertainment. The report said the filmmakers presented the story as an examination of the television industry and the pressures surrounding the production of a high-profile program.
Pattinson is both the film’s lead actor and a producer. Reuters reported that Pattinson had not initially expected to play Hansen, but became more interested in the role as he researched the subject.
The film’s Venice presentation generated strong audience reaction, including a lengthy standing ovation reported by Variety and Deadline.
That festival response reflects the reception at the premiere and does not resolve Hansen’s objections about the film’s accuracy or the use of his identity. No lawsuit by Hansen was reported in the coverage reviewed for this article.
What Pattinson Said About the Character
Pattinson’s comments indicated that he viewed Hansen’s television presence as central to the film’s creative appeal.
He said he had watched To Catch a Predator when he was younger and that he had not initially considered the effect Hansen’s presence could have on viewers.
Pattinson did not dismiss Hansen’s criticism or announce any change to the film in response to it. Instead, he expressed hope that Hansen would watch the finished work and respond favorably to the filmmakers’ interpretation.
A24 has scheduled Primetime for theatrical release on September 25. Until Hansen sees the completed film and makes any further response, the public dispute remains centered on his concerns about dramatization and Pattinson’s answer that he hopes Hansen ultimately likes the movie.
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