Chris Hansen refused to watch Robert Pattinson play him in A24's "Primetime" after the distributor demanded he sign away his rights to the footage.
The 66-year-old "To Catch a Predator" host traveled to A24's offices to screen Lance Oppenheim's film ahead of its Venice Film Festival premiere. Hansen left without viewing it, citing contractual objections. A24 required him to sign a rights agreement before screening, a condition Hansen would not accept.
The dispute underscores the tension between documentary subjects and studios over image rights and approval. Hansen built his reputation on confrontational journalism, creating the NBC series that defined predator-catching television for decades. His name and likeness carry legal and commercial weight.
"Primetime" marks Pattinson's entry into prestige indie cinema following his "Twilight" and "Batman" stardom. Oppenheim previously directed "The Decline of the American Empire" and other documentary work. The film uses Hansen's legacy as its narrative framework, making the real journalist's absence from screenings a pointed statement.
A24's position reflects standard industry practice. Distributors typically protect themselves through legal agreements covering screening footage and subject participation. However, Hansen's refusal signals he wanted either better terms or no involvement with the approval process.
The Venice premiere will proceed without Hansen's blessing. His absence transforms a potential publicity moment into a controversy that frames the entire picture. Audiences will watch Pattinson inhabit Hansen's image and career while the actual Hansen stands apart from the project.
This situation recalls other filmmaker-subject disputes, though rarely involving actors of Pattinson's magnitude. The optics matter for A24, which built its brand partly on artist-friendly deals. That reputation collides here with legal requirements that prevented the subject from even viewing his own portrayal before the film premiered at