Chris Hansen Officially Hits Back at Robert Pattinson’s ‘Primetime’ With Explosive Documentary Trailer

Chris Hansen has seen a resurgence in fame after Robert Pattinson’s portrayal in the A24 film Primetime. While the Dateline NBC host has been vocal about his disdain for the movie and Pattinson’s portrayal, he has now hit back right in time for the release with his own side of the story. The trailer for his documentary, I’m Chris Hansen, is now out.

Pattinson’s film explores the behind-the-scenes conversations around Hansen’s unscripted series, To Catch a Predator, which was a national phenomenon. The film particularly focuses on the events that led to the end of the show and a ‘predator’s’ s*icide. Hansen’s documentary is about his life and how he came to be the noted TV show host.

I’m Chris Hansen Has Been in the Making Since Before Primetime

A still from I’m Chris Hansen | Credits: TruBlu Streaming Network

While the timing of the trailer debut is right on the dot as Robert Pattinson’s Primetime releases in cinemas, the documentary has reportedly been in the making for the past three years. The timeline is important because Hansen has been clear that the documentary is not made to hit back at Primetime, which Hansen has expressed his disdain for.

The documentary showcases Hansen’s rise as a noted TV show host, and how he got into the TV journalism trade. Hansen can be seen talking about the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (which fans would remember from Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman), and how the coverage of that inspired him to get into the business.

While the documentary has been in the making for the past three years, the timing of the trailer release is definitely targeted towards Primetime, as the noted TV personality has reportedly taken out ads to play it before the movie in cinemas (via THR). It seems like Hansen still wants people to know what he positions as the real story behind To Catch a Predator.

No release date has been announced, but I’m Chris Hansen will be released on the TruBlu Streaming Network.

Chris Hansen Called Robert Pattinson’s Portrayal an Insult

Robert Pattinson in Primetime | Credits: A24

Robert Pattinson and Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime has received a lot of attention since it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. Fans have greatly appreciated Pattinson’s performance, with his portrayal of Chris Hansen being hailed as generational. The actor already had an incredible year with The Drama and The Odyssey, and will be seen in Dune: Part Three.

However, the one person who is not a fan of the Die My Love star is Chris Hansen himself. The host reportedly refused to sign an NDA for the movie and has since been vocal about how he did not like the direction in which the film portrayed his show. He criticized the horror approach Lance Oppenheim took and said Pattinson did not even meet him to prepare for the role.

While he said that he had nothing against Pattinson, he said he did not like the darker approach to the show and considered the portrayal an insult. Pattinson has also responded to Chris Hansen’s comments. Hansen said (via THR),

I think it’s an insult to the thousands of men and women who work hard every day to protect children from predators. They turn something that is very positive, very challenging and not without risk into what is essentially a horror film. I guess it’s not surprising that a Hollywood studio would act in such an exploitative or predatory manner. 

Hansen called the movie a work of fiction and claimed that A24 executives only approached him shortly before the trailer was released. His lawyers also mentioned that the NDA did not have standard legal language and hence, Chris Hansen refused to sign it.

Do you think I’m Chris Hansen will change Primetime’s narrative? Comment below.

Primetime is currently playing in cinemas.