The Robert Pattinson movie about the “To Catch a Predator” host is in theaters now.

Primetime director shares the Chris Hansen Cameo video that inspired him to make movie

The Robert Pattinson movie about the “To Catch a Predator” host is in theaters now.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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September 25, 2026 3:49 p.m. ET

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Robert Pattinson in ‘Primetime’; Chris Hansen on ‘To Catch A Predator’. Credit:

- *Primetime* director Lance Oppenheim shared a Cameo from Chris Hansen that his wife gave him years ago.

- Oppenheim says the video inspired his new movie, in which Robert Pattinson plays Hansen.

- The TV personality has spoken out against the project.

The idea for Robert Pattinson’s new film* Primetime* began with a Cameo.

Director Lance Oppenheim shared a personalized video Friday that his wife had purchased for him on a special occasion, which later sparked his idea for a film about the *To Catch a Predator* host.

In it, Hansen uses the distinct tone that he used on the NBC series, which showed sting operations in which men arrived at a location expecting to engage in sexual activity with minors.

“Why does that name sounds so familiar? Aren’t you the one who just directed *Spermworld*, the documentary on Hulu? Excellent job,” Hansen said in the Cameo. “I see Rotten Tomatoes gave you 100 percent. Excellent, Lance.”

Hansen named his many projects, including, of course, *To Catch a Predator*, which aired as a segment on *Dateline* in the 2000s.

“Now I’m going to need you, Lance, to have a seat right over there, not because I suspect you of anything predator-like. Mostly, I see that the film is incredible and a lot of people have reacted to it, including your girlfriend. And she and I would like to just congratulate you on this huge achievement.”

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Hansen went to say that he understands making the documentary was a huge commitment, and he promised to watch it.

Oppenheim explained in the caption that the video was from March 2024, “well before I ever received @ajon.singh’s brilliant script and met Rob.”

Robert Pattinson talks playing the Joker after fans compare his ‘Primetime’ performance to the villain

‘Primetime’ director brought Robert Pattinson Four Lokos and gummies to convince him to play Chris Hansen

But his wife knew of his fandom for *To Catch a Predator* and purchased Hansen’s message “to congratulate me on the release of my film *SPERMWORLD*. This celebratory-style present would change my life forever. Because Primetime, as far as I know, may be the first movie in cinema history to ever be inspired by a Cameo video.”

He went on to note that, “Today, *PRIMETIME* hits theaters nationwide. I feel emotional and elated and crazy and so grateful for my incredible cast and crew who brought their full hearts to the task! And [none] of this could have happened without Abbey getting me this gift. Now please have a seat… at the movies.”

The Oppenheim film that resulted from Hansen’s own video is not one that the TV star approves of.

The ‘Primetime’ cast with director Lance Oppenheim (third from right).

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

“It was so bizarre and so in and out of reality,” Hansen said in his review of the film. “It’s hard for me to... Obviously I’m not objective because the character is, you know, me, but it was so detached from reality or anything I’ve experienced then or now doing the investigations. I’m not sure what the point of it was.”

Even before he’d seen Oppenheim’s project, Hansen spoke out against *Twilight *alum Pattinson’s portrayal of him and called out “Hollywood’s motive.”

*Primetime* is in theaters now.

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