Former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen bought preshow advertising on every screen showing A24’s upcoming film Primetime, directing viewers to his TruBlu streaming network. The move follows Hansen’s dispute with the studio over an unreleased private screening agreement and restrictive legal paperwork.
When moviegoers take their seats for the upcoming A24 release, Primetime, they will encounter the real-life figure behind the drama before the feature even begins. Chris Hansen has secured preshow advertising space across every theater screen playing the film, deploying a commercial that points audiences toward his subscription streaming service, TruBlu.
The ad placement marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the television veteran and the indie studio behind the movie. Directed by Lance Oppenheim in his narrative feature debut, Primetime explores the 2006 rise of To Catch a Predator, the recurring Dateline NBC segment that paired Hansen and camera crews with online decoys to confront suspected child predators. Robert Pattinson stars as Hansen in the film, which is scheduled to premiere at the Venice International Film Festival before hitting theaters on Sept. 25.
The Screening Dispute at A24 Offices
The advertising campaign follows an aborted private screening at A24’s offices. Hansen traveled to the studio for a scheduled 10 a.m. preview of the film but walked out before viewing a single minute after declining to sign a non-disclosure agreement and release form presented by studio lawyers.
Photo: tmz.com
Appearing on Fox News program Jesse Watters Primetime, Hansen detailed his objections to the paperwork, stating that studio counsel asked him to sign away rights concerning his name, image, and brand, alongside potential legal claims arising from the picture.
“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.”
Studio sources have disputed that characterization, telling TMZ and Deadline that Hansen was simply handed a standard pre-release screening NDA designed to protect intellectual property and prevent plot leaks. According to those sources, the document was sent to Hansen a week in advance to allow his legal representation time to submit comments or proposed changes, but he arrived at the office without having negotiated modifications.
Publicly released portions of the agreement include standard liability releases. Clause 5 of the document released to media outlets notes that recipients release the company, its affiliates, and agents from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the project, including recipients screening of the project.
TruBlu Commercial Airs Nationwide in Theaters
Unable to preview the finished project beforehand, Hansen chose to capitalize on the public interest surrounding the film by purchasing advertising inventory ahead of every theatrical screening. The commercial places Hansen back in a familiar setting.
In the spot shared with trade publications, Hansen walks into a standard suburban kitchen—the signature backdrop of his investigative career—and delivers an altered version of his famous confrontation line. I’m going to need everyone in the theater to take a seat right over there, he says in the ad.
The commercial directs viewers to TruBlu via an on-screen QR code. Sources close to the production noted that Hansen initially wanted the advertisement to explicitly caution theatergoers that Primetime represented a fictionalized Hollywood interpretation rather than an accurate documentary record, though that specific line was cut amid concerns over studio pushback.
Background on the 2000s Television Phenomenon
The underlying television franchise ran from 2004 to 2007 as part of Dateline NBC, created in conjunction with the watchdog organization Perverted-Justice. While the broadcasts drew massive audiences, they also attracted intense public scrutiny and legal controversy.
Primetime | Official Trailer (Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen, 2026)
The segment was ultimately canceled following a 2006 sting operation in Rockwall County, Texas, during which Bill Conradt, an assistant district attorney, died by suicide as police and the television crew arrived at his home to execute a search warrant. NBC subsequently settled a $105 million lawsuit out of court stemming from the incident.
Ajon Singh wrote the screenplay for A24’s cinematic adaptation, drawing inspiration from Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article titled Tonight on Dateline, This Man Will Die, which examined the Texas incident.
Unresolved Questions Prior to the September Release
Hansen maintains that he has no financial stake in the film and received no compensation or consultation requests from the production team. Speaking on the Serialously with Annie Elise podcast prior to the screening dispute, he voiced lingering questions regarding the studio’s underlying intentions.
From Instagram — related to chris hansen buys preshow, Chris Hansen Primetime A24
“What’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know. But I’ll find out, and I promise I’ll let you know.”
Chris Hansen, via USA Today
With promotional materials labeling the project as inspired by true events rather than an authorized biographical picture, Hansen will experience the completed film alongside general audiences when Primetime opens in commercial cinemas on Sept. 25.
