To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen on new Robert Pattinson movie

To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen is opening up about the upcoming A24 motion picture Primetime, which sees Robert Pattinson portraying the broadcast journalist during his stint hosting the controversial NBC program.

Hansen, 66, appeared Monday on the podcast Serialously With Annie Elise, saying he hasn’t yet seen the motion picture, which appeared to depict him as ratings-driven in a preview released earlier this month.

He said of Pattinson and director Lance Oppenheim: ‘I know that he’s a very popular actor; I know that the director is a popular guy, but I also have some questions. You know, what’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know, but I’ll find out.’

To Catch a Predator was a segment that aired on the program Dateline NBC between 2004-2007, as Hansen worked in coordinated sting operations with local law enforcement and the watchdog group Perverted Justice.

The premise saw decoys posing as underage teenagers using the internet to set up in-person meetings with adults, which often involved Sєxually-charged chatlogs.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for A24 for further comment on the story, but has not heard back yet. 

To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, 66, is opening up about the upcoming A24 motion picture Primetime, which sees Robert Pattinson portraying the broadcast journalist during his stint hosting the controversial NBC program 

When the suspected predators would arrive at the 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 pᴀssages from the chats.

Robert Pattinson transforms uncannily into To Catch a Predator’s Chris Hansen in Primetime trailer

While a ratings hit, the show garnered controversy amid legal and ethical questions which ultimately led to its 2008 cancelation.

A November 2006 incident saw a Texas ᴀssistant district attorney named Bill Conradt take his own life after police entered his home to arrest him after he had a chat with one of the decoys, with Hansen and his crew outside the home. 

On the podcast, Hansen said he’s only seen the preview for the motion picture  – adding that ‘it looks very dramatic’ – as he’s scheduled to attend a private screening 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 concluded shooting, for input.

‘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.”‘

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’

Hansen appeared Monday on the podcast Serialously With Annie Elise, saying he hasn’t yet seen the motion picture, which appeared to depict him as ratings-driven in a preview released earlier this month 

To Catch a Predator was a segment that aired on the program Dateline NBC between 2004-2007, as Hansen worked in coordinated sting operations with local law enforcement and the watchdog group Perverted Justice 

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.