British actor Robert Pattinson has taken on a new role that sees his voice completely transformed in the trailer for his upcoming film, Primetime. The 40-year-old actor stars as American TV host Chris Hansen in this A24 drama, which delves into the origins of Hansen’s true-crime NBC Dateline programme, To Catch A Predator.
To Catch A Predator, which aired from 2004 to 2007, was a groundbreaking series that documented investigations where Hansen confronted adult men who were lured to a sting house expecting to meet underage girls. Working with law enforcement, Hansen and his team used hidden cameras and actors posing as minors to catch alleged paedophiles, making the show one of the most-watched in its time.
In the newly released trailer, Pattinson can be heard imitating Hansen’s voice, asking questions that reflect the host’s confrontational style. One of his lines includes: “What would have happened if I wasn’t here? You see how this looks, right? At the end of the day, man must be held accountable for the decisions that he makes. Do you agree?”
Another line from the trailer features him saying: “Do you watch television? Well, there’s something you should know. I’m Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC, and you’re about to be a part of television history.”
The series faced significant controversy after the suicide of Texas district attorney William “Bill” Conradt Jr., who shot himself after officers and a film crew reportedly entered his home following an undercover sting operation. His sister, Patricia Conradt, later filed a lawsuit against NBC, claiming the network failed to protect her brother. The case was settled in 2008.
Primetime is directed by Lance Oppenheim and also features Merritt Wever, known for her role in Unbelievable, Skyler Gisondo, star of Focker-In-Law, and singer Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers, known for songs like ‘Scott Street’, ‘Motion Sickness’ and ‘Kyoto’, makes her acting debut in the film.
This is just one of several screen appearances for Pattinson this year. He has already appeared in The Drama and will soon be seen in the upcoming blockbusters The Odyssey and Dune Part Three. He also stars in Die My Love alongside Jennifer Lawrence and the sci-fi comedy Mickey 17, set for release in 2025.
Pattinson first gained international fame for his role as vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight franchise, alongside Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner.
