A24’s upcoming film Primetime is gaining attention after the debut of its first teaser trailer, which shows Robert Pattinson as investigative journalist Chris Hansen during the peak of To Catch a Predator. The movie is inspired by the controversial NBC series that became a major cultural talking point in the 2000s and helped turn Hansen into one of television’s most recognizable true-crime hosts.
Chris Hansen became widely known for To Catch a Predator, the hidden-camera segment that aired on Dateline NBC from 2004 to 2007. The series followed adults accused of trying to meet minors for sex and became infamous for Hansen’s confrontational on-camera interviews. Long after the show ended, Hansen continued working in true-crime and online investigation content. He currently hosts Takedown with Chris Hansen, a streaming series focused on online predator stings, and in 2026 released the special Dangerous Games: Investigating Roblox, which examined child safety issues tied to gaming platforms.
In Primetime, Pattinson plays Hansen at the height of the show’s popularity as he tries to “make television history,” according to the film’s official synopsis. The project is positioned as a dramatic look at a highly controversial chapter in early-2000s television and the media attention surrounding it.
The release date for Primetime has not been announced officially, but A24 is planning a fall 2026 theatrical rollout. Several reports have pointed to September 2026 as the likely release window, although no exact premiere date has been confirmed. The film is expected to arrive in theaters first, with A24 planning an exclusive theatrical release before any home viewing options become available.
There is currently no confirmed streaming date for Primetime. Since the movie has not yet been released, no platform has been announced. Still, viewers expect it could eventually arrive on Max after its theatrical run, given A24’s existing output deals with HBO and Max for many of its films. That streaming outcome, however, has not been officially confirmed.
For now, Primetime remains one of A24’s most anticipated upcoming releases, driven by Pattinson’s casting, the notoriety of its real-life subject, and continued interest in the legacy of To Catch a Predator.
