Chris Hansen on Robert Pattinson Portraying Him in A24's 'Primetime'

Chris Hansen is weighing in on Robert Pattinson's casting as the television personality in the forthcoming A24 project Primetime.

During an appearance on NewsNation, Hansen responded to the newly unveiled trailer for the Lance Oppenheim-directed feature. When asked about the 40-year-old actor taking on the role, Hansen expressed surprise at the existence of the trailer itself.

"What? There's a movie trailer? What will they think of next?" he remarked.

He then offered his assessment of the casting choice, saying: "He's an actor, right? Young, talented guy?"

Interviewer Jesse Weber pressed further, noting that Pattinson's voice bears similarities to Hansen's own. Weber questioned whether Hansen had been involved in the production or had advance knowledge of the project.

Hansen revealed that while the team behind the film had reached out to him this week, he's been instructed to limit his public commentary at this stage. He characterized the trailer as "very dramatic" and indicated he plans to return to the network for a deeper conversation about the film when the time is appropriate.

The Dateline NBC program that forms the basis for the movie documented Hansen confronting adult men who arrived at a sting location expecting to engage in sexual activity with a minor. The men had been communicating online with adults posing as underage individuals. Arrests typically followed these confrontations.

Primetime is scheduled to hit theaters in the fall, though an exact release date has not yet been announced.