Chris Hansen didn’t get to sit down for the brand new A24 film “Primetime.”
The 66-year-old veteran journalist went to the places of work of indie distributor A24 to observe the Lance Oppenheim movie, through which he’s performed by Robert Pattinson, earlier than it bows on the Venice Movie Competition. However he left with out seeing it.
The previous “To Catch a Predator” host went on Fox Information’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” to say he confirmed up on the studio’s places of work for a ten a.m. non-public screening of “Primetime” on Thursday. The Pattinson-led drama is constructed round Hansen’s run atop the hidden-camera franchise. However Hansen claims he walked away after refusing to signal a authorized settlement he describes as not like something he has encountered in 4 a long time on the beat.
A supply near A24 stated Hansen was requested to signal an ordinary NDA that every one preview audiences should adhere to for an unreleased movie — principally to stop spoilers and shield the studio’s IP.
“The legal professionals at A24 wished me to signal away my rights to my title, picture and model primarily, in addition to any potential authorized rights that might come out of the film,” Hansen claimed throughout the look. “I couldn’t signal that, so that they didn’t present me the movie. I went all the way in which over there.”
Pressed by Watters on whether or not he walked in with out authorized cowl, Hansen says his attorneys had already reviewed the paperwork and suggested in opposition to signing. “In fact not,” he says when requested if he put his title to something with no lawyer current. “This was a really restrictive settlement. I’ve by no means seen something fairly prefer it.”
The settlement Hansen describes can be a a lot bigger authorized matter than an ordinary screening NDA, and wouldn’t be requested of different people screening the movie — together with press and third-party advertising and marketing businesses.
The account marks a pointy flip from the place Hansen left issues solely days earlier. Talking on the “Serialously With Annie Elise” podcast, he stated A24 was setting him up with a personal screening “within the subsequent week or so,” after which he would render a verdict on the movie and the way he felt in regards to the depiction of his profession.
Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen in A24’s “Primetime.”
Courtesy of A24
Hansen says he can not say what the studio is likely to be apprehensive about, as a result of he nonetheless has not watched a minute of the image. “I haven’t seen the movie,” he says. “Should you have a look at the trailer, clearly it’s a really dramatized model. That they had informed me that it’s fictionalized in lots of facets. I do know different folks have seen it who didn’t signal an NDA, and but they wished me to signal it.”
Within the trailer and different advertising and marketing supplies for the movie, the indie distributor has labeled “Primetime” as “impressed by true occasions” and has not characterised it as a biopic of Hansen or his life.
The movie is written by Ajon Singh, one in every of Selection’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch from 2025, and is impressed by “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die” by Luke Dittrich.
Hansen is cautious to notice he isn’t chasing a payday. “I’ve no monetary stake on this movie,” he says, including that nobody from the manufacturing paid him or introduced him aboard as a advisor. He discovered the film existed, he says, the way in which he has discovered most issues throughout a protracted profession. “I’m only a working reporter, and I’m not discovered within the refined methods of Hollywood. However I discover stuff out,” Hansen says. “I’ve been an investigative reporter for 4 a long time, so I knew this was happening.”
His frustration, he suggests, is much less in regards to the movie than the timing of the outreach. “I get a name immediately saying, ‘Effectively, you already know, everyone’s involved. They need you to be proud of the movie,’” Hansen says. “Effectively, then why didn’t you inform me about it if you began taking pictures the movie?”
“Primetime” opens in theaters Sept. 25 following its world premiere in competitors on the Venice Movie Competition. Directed by Oppenheim in his narrative function debut and written by Ajon Singh, the film follows Hansen in 2006 as “To Catch a Predator” makes the leap from “Dateline NBC” phase to its personal primetime block. Pattinson stars and produces by means of his Icki Eneo Arlo banner, with a supporting forged that features Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers and Bokeem Woodbine. Former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker seems as himself.
“To Catch a Predator” ran from 2004 to 2007 as a recurring “Dateline NBC” investigation, pairing Hansen and a digital camera crew with decoys posing as minors to confront males who arrived at sting homes. The franchise was canceled after a 2006 Texas operation through which Rockwall County assistant district lawyer Louis Conradt died by suicide as authorities and the present’s crew closed in on his residence.
For now, it appears to be like like Hansen should see the film the way in which the remainder of the nation will, with a paid theater ticket. Requested what he would say to Pattinson, he reaches, inevitably, for the road that made him well-known. “Sit down proper over there,” Hansen says.
A24 declined to remark.
