Chris Hansen declines to view A24's 'Primetime' but buys theater ads for his own platform

Chris Hansen left an August 20 private screening of A24’s upcoming drama "Primetime" at the studio’s Manhattan offices after declining to sign a nondisclosure agreement that he said would limit his ability to challenge his portrayal. Despite not having seen the film, Hansen’s company has bought pre-show advertising that will run in theaters showing the movie, which opens on September 25, to direct viewers to TruBlu, the subscription platform where he hosts new sting-operation videos.

"It’s a movie that uses my name, image and likeness. Why not direct people to what the real Chris Hansen is doing? Here’s where you can see it," Hansen told The Times.

"Primetime," directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut, dramatizes events linked to the controversial "To Catch a Predator" series that aired on Dateline NBC from 2004 to 2007. The film, based on a 2007 Esquire article, premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 5 and features Robert Pattinson portraying Hansen.

Hansen, who continues to conduct online sting operations and has amassed a sizable following on social media, said he is not seeking payment from the filmmakers but wants a clear statement that the movie is fictional and, if possible, financial contributions to victim-support groups. Legal experts note that U.S. courts generally allow filmmakers to dramatize a living person’s story without permission under the First Amendment.

A24 declined to comment, and a source familiar with the production said the NDA request was standard practice for pre-release screenings. The film’s trailer, released in August, includes a cameo by former NBCUniversal chief Jeff Zucker and a line from Pattinson’s character proclaiming he will be “bigger than ‘Lost.’"