Chris Hansen Questions Hollywood’s Motive Behind Robert Pattinson Film

Chris Hansen is taking a cautious approach to “Primetime,” the upcoming film starring Robert Pattinson that appears to draw inspiration from Hansen’s work on NBC’s “To Catch a Predator.”

The former “Dateline NBC” host says he has not yet seen the movie and does not want to judge it before watching the full film. He told podcaster Annie Elise that he expects to see it next week.

Hansen said the filmmakers contacted him only after the project was already underway. According to Hansen, they approached him a few months ago and asked whether he would consider helping with the project, but he was not actually consulted during the making of the film.

“My suspicion is that they used my name because it helps in a commercial enterprise,” Hansen said.

The trailer has also left him with questions. While Hansen acknowledged that Pattinson is a popular actor and director Lance Oppenheim is well known, he questioned why Hollywood wanted to tell this particular story.

“It looks dramatic. It looks very dramatic,” Hansen said. “What’s Hollywood’s motive here?”

Hansen also revealed that he did not have a say in who would portray him. If he had been given the choice, he said he once thought actor Denis Leary would be a good fit, depending on the age of the character.

Despite his concerns, Hansen said he is focused on his own work.

“I’m busy being the real Chris Hansen,” he said.

“Primetime” also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 25.

Hansen became widely known for “To Catch a Predator,” a series of “Dateline NBC” investigations that ran from 2004 to 2007. The program worked with the watchdog group Perverted Justice to expose men who believed they were arranging sexual encounters with minors. Hansen confronted suspects at sting houses while cameras recorded the encounters, with police involved in the investigations.

The series eventually ended following legal and ethical controversy, including the 2006 death of one of its suspects, who killed himself as police and NBC camera crews entered his home.

For now, Hansen says viewers will have to wait for the finished film before drawing conclusions. His own verdict, he suggests, will come after he finally gets a chance to see “Primetime” in full.