Chris Hansen is telling his side of the story as Robert Pattinson’s Primetime hits screens. His TruBlu streaming network unveiled the trailer for I’m Chris Hansen on September 25, the same day Primetime was released, offering a look at the Dateline legend’s life and career.
Chris Hansen unveils his new documentary “I’m Chris Hansen” as Robert Pattinson’s Primetime hits theaters
The investigative journalist told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes the studio and director Lance Oppenheim “didn’t want to know the truth.” Hansen said the filmmakers already had a vision for the film. He claimed they wanted to benefit from using his name. Primetime stars Robert Pattinson as a fictionalized version of Hansen. The film is now in theaters. Meanwhile, Hansen’s true-crime streaming channel is also getting attention.
Primetime draws inspiration from Hansen’s time hosting To Catch a Predator. Hansen called the film, produced by A24, “a complete work of fiction attached to a real name.” He said, “Based upon what I’ve seen in the trailer and my understanding of what has been written about the film, they wanted to create something much darker and way more dramatic.” Adding, “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.” He went on to call the film itself “exploitative and predatory.”
The 67-year-old, who hosted the landmark Dateline NBC segment from 2004 to 2007, had not watched the film because he refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Hansen previously revealed that the filmmakers did not consult him during production. They contacted him only after completing the film. Now, according to the outlet, Hansen has bought TruBlu ads that played before every Primetime screening. The film also stars Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher and Bokeem Woodbine.