Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of American television host Chris Hansen in the film “Primetime” is drawing wide attention, days before the film opens in US cinemas.
Danish broadcaster DR reported on September 21 that Pattinson plays Hansen in “Primetime”. The drama centers on the controversial US program “To Catch a Predator” and its sting operations.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2026, according to the BBC. Variety reports that Lance Oppenheim directed it. Per Reuters, distributor A24 opens the film in US cinemas on September 25, 2026.
Reuters frames the film as an examination of the blurred line between investigative journalism and entertainment. The same report states that Pattinson first intended to develop the role for another actor. He then grew increasingly attached to playing Hansen himself.
DR notes that a Danish premiere date has not yet been announced. The broadcaster also reports that the real Chris Hansen has called the drama an insult. According to DR, Hansen bought advertising time around US screenings to promote his own show.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hansen conceded that Pattinson captures him well, as noted by DR. Variety described the resemblance as uncanny. The Danish site Soundvenue wrote that Pattinson is in top form in the role.
A busy year of roles
The BBC review called Pattinson’s performance extraordinary and described 2026 as his year. DR lists three other 2026 roles. He played an art historian in the dark comedy “The Drama” and Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”.
Later this year he appears as the shapeshifter Scytale in Denis Villeneuve’s third “Dune” film. Danish film critic Casper Christensen told DR that this amounts to a strong year. He added that the run is not particularly surprising.
Christensen said Pattinson has worked on this development for more than a decade. Per Christensen, the actor challenges himself, keeps his artistic integrity, and still sells large numbers of tickets. He described that combination as something many current male stars lack.
Pattinson broke through in 2005 as Cedric Diggory in the fourth Harry Potter film, DR reports. He then became known as Edward in the “Twilight” films. Christensen pointed to the 2017 film “Good Time” as the turning point, when Pattinson took on smaller projects alongside studio work.
Christensen also told DR that audiences consume stars differently than in earlier decades. He said figures like Robert De Niro or Dustin Hoffman will not emerge again. If anyone is to define stardom for Generation Z, he said, it is Pattinson.
