Robert Pattinson Hunts a Predator in A24’s Dark New Thriller ‘Primetime’
A24 has unveiled the first full trailer for Primetime, a tense and unsettling dramatization of the story behind Dateline NBC’s infamous sting series To Catch a Predator. Robert Pattinson steps into the role of journalist Chris Hansen, portraying the rise — and moral unraveling — of one of television’s most controversial crime‑fighting phenomena.
You see how this looks, right? Lance Oppenheim's PRIMETIME produced by and starring Robert Pattinson as famed To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, inspired by true events. Have a seat September 25. pic.twitter.com/FvGyl2dIBs
— A24 (@A24) August 6, 2026
“Why don’t you have a seat right there.” Pattinson channels Hansen’s icy authority
In the trailer, Pattinson delivers Hansen’s signature line with chilling precision: “Why don’t you have a seat right there.” It’s not an invitation — it’s a trap snapping shut.
He confronts a man who believed he was meeting a teenager: “I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC… You see how this looks, right?”
The segment’s explosive popularity shocks even NBC executives. One admits he doesn’t personally like the show, “but America loves it.”
Hansen and his producer, played by Merritt Wever, celebrate their meteoric rise: “We’re gonna be bigger than Lost!”
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Prime time fame fuels dangerous ambition
Once the series moves into prime time, the team becomes emboldened, chasing bigger targets and darker stories. Hansen declares:
“I want something that matters. No more bottom‑feeders. I want a whale.”
During a conversation on a plane, a passenger asks if he ever wants to “bleed ’em.” Hansen replies that what he does might be worse — hinting at the psychological and ethical weight of his work.
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A documentary filmmaker steps into narrative cinema
Lance Oppenheim, known for visually striking documentaries like Some Kind of Heaven, Spermworld, and HBO’s Ren Faire, makes his narrative feature debut with Primetime.
The screenplay, written by Ajon Singh in his first feature outing, is based on Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die.”
The film is produced by an impressive roster:
- Brian Kavanaugh‑Jones
- Fred Berger
- William Iannaccone
- Brighton McCloskey
- Lars Knudsen
- Ari Aster
- Robert Pattinson
The cast also includes Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, and Bokeem Woodbine.
Festival debut and theatrical release
Primetime will have its world premiere in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, running September 2–12. The film hits theaters September 25.
