Chris Hansen Mulls Lawsuit Over A24’s “Primetime”

Former “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen has indicated he may pursue legal action against A24 for the upcoming thriller *Primetime*. Hansen says he was asked to sign a pre-screening nondisclosure agreement that would relinquish his rights to his name, image and brand. After refusing the agreement, he was denied a private screening of the unreleased film.

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*Primetime*, directed by Lance Oppenheim and starring Robert Pattinson as a fictionalized Hansen, dramatizes the creation of the hidden-camera sting series that aired from 2004 to 2007. Hansen objected to the use of his name and the names of his colleagues and family members in a work he assumes to be fictional, describing the approach as “exploitive” and “sneaky.” He purchased advertising space before early screenings to promote his true-crime streaming service TruBlu, then later declined the NDA and missed the advance viewing.

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During an interview on SiriusXM’s *The Dan Abrams Show*, Hansen explained that an entertainment-law attorney told him he could have “a decent case” against the film, but he worries that publicizing a lawsuit might unintentionally promote the movie. Hansen emphasized that he has not yet seen the film and remains uncertain about the amount of time he would devote to litigation.

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• “It feels very exploitive to me,” — Chris Hansen

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• “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,” — Chris Hansen

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Hansen’s advisers suggest that a claim could be based on alleged misappropriation of his persona and the lack of clear disclosure that the film is fictional. While he has not filed a lawsuit, he indicated that the decision hinges on balancing legal merits against the risk of granting the film additional publicity. The film is slated to open in September.

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