What To Know
- Chris Hansen will promote his streaming platform TruBlu at screenings of A24’s new movie Primetime.
- Learn more about the motivation behind his big purchase.
A24’s upcoming movie Primetime may chronicle the events surrounding To Catch a Predator‘s run, but real-life former host Chris Hansen is seeking to promote his own streamer TruBlu after buying ads in front of every movie screen playing the film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hansen has purchased pre-show advertising on every theater screen showing the movie, which seeks to gain traction for his TruBlu streaming network, which features programming similar to the predator investigations his name has become synonymous with.
As fans know by now, Primetime stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen during To Catch a Predator‘s run, and recounts the events that led to the end of the series as fans knew it. Based on the 2007 Esquire article Tonight on Dateline, This Man Will Die, by writer Luke Dittrich, Primetime is directed by Lance Oppenheim.
As previously revealed by Hansen, he hasn’t seen the movie, and didn’t have a hand in selecting who would portray him onscreen. “I know that he’s a very popular actor,” Hansen had said of Pattinson when he appeared on the podcast Serialously With Annie Elise. “I know that the director is a popular guy, but I also have some questions. You know, what’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know, but I’ll find out. And, I promise you, I’ll let you know.”
A24
During that interview, Hansen also revealed he was supposed to screen the movie early, but it has since been revealed that he refused to screen it as he was asked to sign an NDA in order to do so. Hansen spoke about the situation during an appearance on Jesse Watters‘ Fox News program, where he said, “I was supposed to see it at 10 this morning. The lawyers wanted me to sign away my rights to my name, image, and brand.”
Set to open in theaters on September 25, Primetime is making its world premiere on September 5 at the Venice Film Festival. According to THR, Hansen is consulting attorneys about his options following the film’s release. Meanwhile, in the ad that will run on theater screens, the outlet reports Hansen enters the scene in a kitchen and delivers a variation of his catchphrase, “I’m going to need everyone in the theater to take a seat right there.”
As the ad continues, Hansen says, ‘Now there are more platforms than ever before where this disturbing crime is being committed. Join us undercover every day on my streaming network, TruBlu.” Viewers will also be shown a QR code that will bring them to the landing page of TruBlu.
According to THR, the ad was going to conclude with Hansen addressing the audience, saying that Primetime is “a Hollywood fantasy version” of what really happened, but was ultimately excluded for potential legal blowback from A24.
Stay tuned to see how Primetime‘s arrival unfolds, and let us know what you think of Hansen buying ad space in front of the movie’s premiere in the comments section below.
Primetime, Movie Premiere, Friday, September 25, Theaters