Chris Hansen Considers Legal Action Over ‘Primetime’ Depiction: “It Feels Very Exploitive”

Chris Hansen, formerly of “To Catch a Predator,” is contemplating legal action against A24’s upcoming film “Primetime.” He has received legal advice suggesting he has a viable case against the thriller, which is set to premiere on September 25th.

Hansen revealed on SiriusXM’s “The Dan Abrams Show” that he has been advised he could pursue legal action. “One guy told me, somebody who’s very, very good at all this and very entrenched in entertainment law, he said, ‘You know, you can do that, and you probably have a decent case. How much time do you want to spend doing it?’” he stated.

However, Hansen is hesitant to take actions that might inadvertently promote the movie. “The thought process here is that, if you protest it too much, do they turn it into a promotional situation where, ‘this is the movie Chris Hansen doesn’t want you to see.’ Well, in reality, it’s the movie Chris Hansen hasn’t even seen yet, so it’s a hard question to answer.”

With Robert Pattinson cast as him, Hansen voiced his ethical concerns about the use of his name and the names of his colleagues and family members in what he assumes to be a fictional portrayal. “It feels very exploitative to me,” Hansen remarked. “It feels sneaky and disingenuous to me that they would do this and not even say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’”

These comments follow Hansen’s recent move to purchase ad space before screenings of “Primetime” to promote his true-crime streaming network, TruBlu, which continues his sting investigations. He had previously confirmed he intended to see the film after receiving an invitation for a private screening.

Hansen also recounted being asked to sign a highly restrictive agreement for an advanced screening, which he declined. “The lawyers at A24 wanted me to sign away my rights to my name, image and brand essentially, as well as any potential legal rights that would come out of the movie,” he explained, adding that he could not agree to such terms and was subsequently not shown the film.

The document in question was a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) typically required from preview audiences to prevent spoilers and protect intellectual property. Hansen’s refusal to sign reportedly led to him being denied access to the screening.

“Primetime” is described as following Chris Hansen as he attempts to achieve television history with NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” (2004-2007), a show that utilized hidden cameras to expose adult men seeking sexual encounters with minors online.

English Translation:

Chris Hansen, formerly of “To Catch a Predator,” is reportedly considering legal action against A24’s upcoming film “Primetime.” He has received advice suggesting a “decent case” against the thriller, which is slated for a September 25th theatrical release.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s “The Dan Abrams Show,” Hansen revealed that legal counsel indicated he could pursue action. “One guy told me, somebody who’s very, very good at all this and very entrenched in entertainment law, he said, ‘You know, you can do that, and you probably have a decent case. How much time do you want to spend doing it?’” he recounted.

However, Hansen is wary of his protestations inadvertently serving as promotional material for the movie. “The thought process here is that, if you protest it too much, do they turn it into a promotional situation where, ‘this is the movie Chris Hansen doesn’t want you to see.’ Well, in reality, it’s the movie Chris Hansen hasn’t even seen yet, so it’s a hard question to answer,” he explained.

With Robert Pattinson set to portray him, Hansen expressed ethical reservations regarding the use of his name and those of his colleagues and family members in what he anticipates to be a fictional narrative. “It feels very exploitive to me,” Hansen stated. “It feels sneaky and disingenuous to me that they would do this and not even say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’”

Hansen’s latest remarks come after he previously purchased advertising space prior to film screenings to promote his true-crime streaming network, TruBlu, where he continues his sting investigations. He had recently confirmed he would “see” the movie, having been invited to a private screening.

Hansen also shared that he was asked to sign a “very restrictive agreement” to attend an advanced screening, which he refused. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” he commented. He further elaborated, “The lawyers at A24 wanted me to sign away my rights to my name, image and brand essentially, as well as any potential legal rights that would come out of the movie. I couldn’t sign that, so they didn’t show me the film. I went all the way over there.”

The document was an NDA, standard for preview audiences to prevent spoilers and protect intellectual property before a film's release. Hansen reportedly declined to sign, consequently being denied a screening of the film.

“Primetime,” premiering September 25th, centers on Chris Hansen (Pattinson) as he endeavors to make television history with NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” (2004-2007), a hidden camera program that conducted stings on adult men seeking sex with minors online.