Actor Robert Pattinson has spoken about his leading role in the new psychological thriller “Primetime,” in which he plays American journalist and presenter Chris Hansen, emphasizing that his goal is not to judge or condemn the figure he portrays. The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim and written by Ajon Singh, returns to the story of the American show “To Catch a Predator,” broadcast from 2004 to 2007. At the center of the events is Hansen, an NBC journalist who collaborated with a group of citizens to expose, through undercover operations, people suspected of involvement in child sexual abuse.
Speaking to the PA during the film's presentation at the London Film Festival, Pattinson explained that his portrayal aims to convey the complexity of the story without turning the film into a final judgment on Hansen as a person. "It's a portrait and in no way a condemnation of Chris as a person. It was not even intended to say, 'This is him,'" the actor said. "Primetime" also deals with the making of "To Catch a Predator," a program that aimed to expose people suspected of attempting to have sex with minors. The show was officially canceled in 2008, after a serious incident during an undercover operation in Texas in 2006.
During that operation, Bill Conrad, an assistant district attorney, shot himself after police and a television crew entered his apartment. The episode was never aired. Pattinson revealed that he had originally considered joining the project as a producer only, but later decided to take on the lead role. According to him, the script and his familiarity with the show influenced his decision to play Hansen.
The actor said he had done extensive research into the history of the program and the events surrounding it, noting that Hansen's experience as a public figure was unique. "Many others covered the same news, but none of them experienced what happened to Chris," Pattinson said. Through this film, the actor aims to bring to the screen a story that combines investigative journalism, public exposure and the consequences of covert television operations, leaving room to understand the complexity of the character and the events.
