Robert Pattinson used the London premiere of Primetime to respond to criticism from the man he plays in the film. Speaking on the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival on 11 October, the actor addressed comments made by Chris Hansen, the real-life presenter of To Catch a Predator. The actor kept his reply light, but did not avoid the question.
Hansen was not consulted on the project. After watching the film in a cinema, he criticised it publicly, putting its lead actor in the unusual position of answering the subject of his own performance during the promotional tour. Pattinson took a positive line when asked about the comments. He told Entertainment Tonight that his aim had been to portray Hansen in an appealing way. “I was trying to make him cool,” he said. The film’s subject, a presenter famous for confronting people on camera, has given it a natural talking point.
The actor also described Hansen as a fan favourite. He pointed to the young viewers who have been dressing up as the presenter and doing impressions of him at screenings, and said some of them go on to seek out Hansen’s wider body of work as a result. In his view, the film has introduced the presenter to a new generation rather than diminished him. It was a generous reading of a situation that could easily have turned awkward.
Pattinson was joined at the premiere by co-star Merritt Wever and director Lance Oppenheim. The London screening formed part of a busy festival programme that has brought a long list of awards hopefuls to the city this month. Primetime’s subject matter and its star’s willingness to engage with the controversy have made it one of the more talked-about titles of the event. The film’s director also posed for photographs with his cast before the screening.
The film opens in UK cinemas on 30 October. Hansen has not publicly responded to Pattinson’s remarks so far. The exchange is unlikely to hurt interest in the release, and the actor’s relaxed reply on the carpet suggests he is comfortable with the debate the film has started. Further promotional appearances in the coming weeks will give him more chances to discuss the role and the man behind it. Audiences in Britain will soon be able to judge the portrayal for themselves.
