Chris Hansen, the former host of To Catch a Predator, made headlines after he left a private screening of the new A24 movie Primetime without watching the film. The 66-year-old journalist arrived at A24’s offices on Thursday morning for a 10 a.m. screening but walked away after refusing to sign a legal agreement. The movie stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen and is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Hansen shared his experience during an appearance on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime. He claimed that A24’s lawyers wanted him to sign away his rights to his name, image, and brand, along with any potential legal rights connected to the film. He said he could not agree to those terms, so the studio did not show him the movie.
“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.”
A24 Source Says It Was a Standard NDA
A source close to A24 gave a different account of what happened. According to Deadline, the source said Hansen was asked to sign a standard nondisclosure agreement (NDA) that all preview audiences must sign for an unreleased film. The purpose of the NDA is to prevent spoilers and protect the studio’s intellectual property.
The source told Variety that Hansen was not asked to “sign away” his rights. The agreement was the same type given to everyone who watches a film before its public release. Hansen reportedly refused to sign the NDA and was therefore not allowed to view the movie.
This disagreement between Hansen’s version of events and the studio source’s account has created confusion about what exactly was in the paperwork. Neither side has made the actual document public, so it remains unclear who is correct.
Hansen’s Lawyers Reviewed the Agreement
Hansen made it clear that he did not walk into the screening without legal advice. He told Jesse Watters that his attorneys had already reviewed the paperwork before he arrived at A24’s offices. His lawyers advised him against signing the document.
When asked if he would sign anything without a lawyer present, Hansen responded:
“Of course not. This was a very restrictive agreement. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Hansen, who has worked in journalism for four decades, said the agreement was unlike anything he had encountered during his long career. He noted that other people had already seen the film without signing an NDA, yet the studio wanted him to sign one.
“I know other people have seen it who didn’t sign an NDA, and yet they wanted me to sign it.”
A source with direct knowledge of the situation told Variety that those who have seen the film have personal relationships with the filmmakers and are credited in the movie. The source also said that it is standard policy for individuals not associated with a film to sign an NDA before viewing it before its public release.
Hansen Has No Financial Stake in the Film
Hansen made it clear that money was not a factor in his decision. He said he has no financial stake in Primetime and was not paid for his involvement. No one from the production brought him on as a consultant. He learned about the movie the same way he has learned about most things in his career — through his own research.
“I’m just a working reporter, and I’m not learned in the sophisticated ways of Hollywood. But I find stuff out.”
Hansen also questioned why the studio waited until the film was already made to reach out to him. He said the film is based heavily on his career, yet he was not involved in the production.
“My suspicion is that they used my name because it helps in a commercial enterprise.”
What Is ‘Primetime’ About?
Primetime is the narrative feature debut of director Lance Oppenheim. The screenplay was written by Ajon Singh, who was named one of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025. The film is inspired by Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die”.
The movie follows Chris Hansen in 2006 as To Catch a Predator moves from a Dateline NBC segment to its own primetime show. The series used hidden cameras to set up sting operations for adult men seeking s*x with minors. The show attracted major controversy and was eventually canceled after a 2006 incident involving the death of an assistant district attorney in Texas.
Robert Pattinson plays Hansen in the film. The cast also includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Anna Faris, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine, and Creed Bratton. A24 has labeled the film as “inspired by true events” and has not called it a biopic of Hansen or his life.
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Release Details
Primetime will have its world premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2026, where it will compete for the Golden Lion. The film will then be released in theaters across the United States on September 25, 2026. Release dates for other regions including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India have not yet been announced.
Hansen has not seen a single minute of the film. He previously said on the Serialously With Annie Elise podcast that he would give his verdict on the movie after watching it. However, the screening never happened because of the NDA disagreement.
“I haven’t seen the film. If you look at the trailer, obviously it’s a very dramatized version. They had told me that it’s fictionalized in many aspects.”
Hansen said he cannot say what the studio might be worried about because he has not watched the movie. The dispute over the NDA has now become part of the conversation surrounding the film before its festival premiere.
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