Robert Pattinson Reacts to Chris Hansen’s Primetime Criticism

Sasha Wayman Sat, September 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM UTC

0

Originally appeared on E! Online

Robert Pattinson is addressing Chris Hansen’s concerns.

The actor—who is starring in the upcoming A24 film Primetime, which chronicles Hansen’s controversial stint at the helm of Dateline NBC’s To Catch a Predator—spoke out after the former TV host criticized Pattinson’s portrayal.

“Obviously, I hope he likes the movie,” Pattinson said at the Venice Film Festival press conference Sept. 5, per Variety. “There’s something electrifying about him. I would hope the amount of inspiration his character has given a lot of people for years is some kind of compliment.”

In the psychological thriller, Pattinson plays Hansen, an over ambitious journalist who sets out to catch adult men hoping to meet up with minors.

As for the Twilight alum’s thoughts on Hansen?

“There’s something magnetic about his presence. I watched the show when I was younger and didn’t think about it,” he added. “There’s a strange alchemy—something he’s doing is the reason people are still talking about that show 20 years later. It’s not to do solely with the subject matter. It was something about the show that was groundbreaking, but then he’s someone centering it.”

More from E! Online

Advertisement

Lindsay Clancy's Ex-Husband Patrick Clancy Speaks Out on Mistrial Over Death of Their 3 Kids

Influencer Igho "Tiny" Ubiribo Dies at 43 After Penis Enlargement Surgery

Wheel of Fortune's Jim Thornton Officially Fired After Alleged Pedophile Chat Room Incident

He continued, “There’s something, even after watching literally thousands of hours of it, you can’t put your finger on it.”

But Hansen—who hosted the investigative reality show from 2004 to 2007—condemned how he was depicted in the film’s trailer.

“Obviously, he has practiced imitating me, and while I think it’s overly dramatic, I think there is a pretty good imitation there in the trailer,” Hansen told Entertainment Tonight in a recent interview. “It’s not so much what I think; it’s what other people think. And you know, my wife [and] my family seem to think it’s a pretty good imitation.”

Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Peugeot/Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images

“He’s saying things I never said and doing things I never did, and that’s not who I am. I’m a nice guy, except when it comes to criminals and predators,” he added. “I think people should remember that it is a work of fiction, only based on real-life events.”

At its peak, To Catch a Predator drew over 6 million viewers per episode. However, the Dateline franchise was discontinued amid a flurry of controversies, including when William Conradt Jr., an assistant district attorney in Texas, died by suicide in 2006 upon being discovered by the sting crew.

Condradt’s sister later filed a $109 million lawsuit against NBC for his death, and the network settled for an undisclosed amount in 2008.

Hansen officially parted ways with NBC in 2013, when his contract was not renewed, before starting his podcast series Predators I’ve Caught, based on the Dateline franchise inn 2020. Now, he's urging viewers to tune in “if they want to see the real Chris Hansen.”

Until Primetime hits theaters Sept. 25, keep reading for more movies coming out soon…

The End of Oak Street - August 14, 2026

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together. StarringEwan McGregorandAnne Hathaway.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Spa Weekend - August 21, 2026

Leslie Mann,Isla Fisher,Michelle Buteau, andAnna Farisstar in a wild comedy about four lifelong friends who escape to a luxury spa retreat for what turns out to be an unforgettable weekend dedicated to fun, laughter, and a lot of really bad decisions.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Dog Stars - August 28, 2026

Ridley Scottdirects this post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller starringJacob Elordi,Margaret Qualley,Josh Brolin,andGuy Pearce.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Practical Magic 2 - September 11, 2026

The witchy Owens sisters return in this sequel to the 1998 classic. StarringNicole Kidman,Sandra Bullock,Lee Pace,Joey King, andMaisie Williams.Where to Watch:In theatersThe Love Hypothesis - September 23, 2026

Based on the New York Times best-seller,The Love Hypothesisfollows Olive (Lili Reinhart), a Ph.D. candidate who impulsively kisses her department's most intimidating professor, Adam Carlsen (Tom Bateman). Their mutual need for a fake relationship turns into an experiment in chemistry that might actually solve for love.Where to Watch:Streaming onPrime VideoUnabomber - September 25, 2026

Inspired by true events,UnabomberfollowsTed Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from Harvard prodigy into the infamous domestic terrorist. Also starringRussell Crowe,Shailene WoodleyandAnnabelle Wallis.Where to Watch:Streaming onNetflixVerity - October 2, 2026

Adapted fromColleen Hoover's best-selling novel, this psychological thriller follows renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway) and Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer who relocates to the remote Crawford estate to ghostwrite for Verity.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Digger - October 2, 2026

Tom Cruiseteams up with Oscar-winning directorAlejandro G. Iñárritufor this black comedy the world's most powerful man as he embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Social Reckoning - October 9, 2026

A companion piece to 2010'sThe Social Network, writer/directorAaron Sorkin's new film is inspired by the true story of a young Facebook engineer (Mikey Madison) who enlists the help of aWall Street Journalreporter (Jeremy Allen White) to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle onMark Zuckerberg(Jeremy Strong) and the social network’s most guarded secrets.Where to watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Animals - October 9, 2026

When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate (Ben Affleck) and his wife (Kerry Washington) find themselves drawn into a web of deception.Where to Watch:In select theaters and streaming onNetflixBuy a ticketHERE.Matchbox The Movie - October 9, 2026

In this action-packed adventure inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, an undercover CIA agent (John Cena) returns to his small town and unwittingly gets his childhood friends embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.Where to Watch:Streaming onApple TVSense and Sensibility - October 16, 2026

Daisy Edgar-Jonesstars as Elinor Dashwood in this latest adaptation ofJane Austen's beloved novel. Also starringFiona Shaw,Caitríona Balfe,George MacKay, andEsmé Creed-Miles.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Street Fighter - October 16, 2026

A live-action version of the legendary arcade game, starringNoah Centineo,Jason Momoa,50 Cent, and many more as the iconic fighters.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Sacrifice - October 16, 2026

During a charity gala brimming with celebrities and billionaires, a movie star in the midst of an existential crisis (Chris Evans) is taken hostage by an eco-warrior (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her devoted followers.Where to Watch:Streaming onNetflixWicker - October 23, 2026

Alexander Skarsgardtransformsfor his role as the Wicker Husband made forOlivia Colman's ostracized fisherwoman in this unconventional love story.Where to Watch:In select theaters on October 23, expanding October 30, 2026.The Cat in the Hat - November 6, 2026

Based on the belovedDr. Seuss book, this animated adaptation will feature the voices ofBill Hader,Quinta Brunson,Bowen Yang, andAmerica Ferrera.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - November 20, 2026

This highly anticipated prequel revisits the world of Panem and follows young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games. Also starringGlenn Close,Whitney Peak,Elle Fanning,Ralph Fiennes,Mckenna GraceandMaya Hawke.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Focker-In-Law - November 25, 2026

Ben StillerandRobert De Niroreunite alongsideAriana Grandefor this new chapter in theMeet the Parentsfranchise.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Hexed - November 25, 2026

This animated coming-of-age saga follows an impulsive teenage girl named Billie (Hailee Steinfeld) who discovers secret magical abilities which hurtle her into a spectacular journey out of suburbia and into a vast witch realm called Hexe.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Avengers: Doomsday - December 18, 2026

An insanelystar-studded castof MCU fan-favorites return to our screens in this fifth installment of theAvengersfilm series.Where to Watch:In theatersBuy a ticketHERE.Dune: Part Three - December 18, 2026

ZendayaandTimothée Chalametreturn to deliver the epic conclusion to directorDenis Villeneuve’s trilogy. Also starringJason Momoa,Florence Pugh,Rebecca Ferguson,Anya Taylor-Joy,Robert Pattinson, andJavier Bardem.Where to Watch:In theaters and IMAXBuy a ticketHERE.Jumanji: Open World - December 25, 2026

The core cast (Dwayne Johnson,Karen Gillan,Jack BlackandKevin Hart) returns for this final installment of the reboot trilogy about a magical board game.Where to Watch:In theaters

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”