Robert Pattinson is a chameleon. From playing the drunken Winslow in Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” to fighting crime in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” and Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” the actor flexes his acting chops in every character he plays. And that talent revs into overdrive with his brand new role.
Pattinson plays Chris Hansen, a “Dateline” correspondent who hosted NBC’s primetime segment “Catching a Predator” from 2004 to 2007. The program operated as a sting operation to catch internet predators preying on teenagers in chat rooms. Despite the show’s short tenure, it became a cultural phenomenon of the 2000s and has led to a brand new film, titled “Primetime,” directed by Lance Oppenheimer in his narrative feature film debut.
Viewers now have their first look at Pattinson in the role with the release of the official trailer.
‘Primetime’ Trailer Exposes Behind-the-Scenes
The trailer for the film shows Robert Pattinson at his best. He slips into the role of Chris Hansen with a perfect vocal and physical performance. “You see how this looks, right?” Pattinson delivers the iconic line that sent shockwaves through predators after Hansen revealed himself and the sting operation.
The first look also shows behind-the-scenes of Hansen convincing NBC producers to take a chance on the show, as well as the emotional and psychological toll it took on the popular TV host. “‘Predator’ has never earned the recognition it deserves,” says Hansen over heart-pounding visuals of predators being tased to the ground, an actor auditioning for a role, and the resulting sting operation.
The cast also includes musician Phoebe Bridgers, Merritt Wever (“Nurse Jackie,” “The Walking Dead”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza,” “Booksmart”), Matthew Maher (“Dogma,” “Jersey Girl”) and Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo,” “Ray”).
The Many Incarnations of ‘To Catch a Predator’
“To Catch a Predator” was canceled in 2008 after district attorney Bill Conradt passed away during a sting operation on the show. Due to concerns over entrapment laws, his family sued NBC for $105 million and settled out of court. The show layed dormant for seven years when Hansen launched a Kickstarter campaign to resurrect the series. He also sought various broadcasters to bring the show back.
In 2016, “Hansen vs. Predator” began its short-lived run as a segment for the syndicated news program “Crime Watch Daily.” Later, TruBlu launched “Takedown with Chris Hansen,” another spiritual successor to the original show. The series continues to run episodes on the streaming platform.
During the height of “To Catch a Predator,” the show drew significant criticism. CBS News reporter Brian Montopoli shared concerns over the ethical and moral implications, as well as NBC’s ratings race. “Perhaps, I’m being cynical, but I find it telling that this program has been remade and rerun so often,” he wrote in a blog post. “You could argue that NBC is just making sure as many people as possible are aware predators are out there, but is it too much to think that a little thing called ‘ratings’ might play a part, as well?”
