Robert Pattinson's Chris Hansen film 'Primetime' gets huge Venice ovation
Robert Pattinson's new film 'Primetime' premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a roaring seven-minute standing ovation, according to Variety. The thriller features Pattinson as 'To Catch a Predator' host Chris Hansen, in a performance described by the outlet as 'immersive'.
The film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, is a fictionalized take on Hansen's work for the controversial NBC 'Dateline' segment. Variety's review notes a scene where Hansen, played by Pattinson, obsessively directs a technician to get 'tighter in' on his prey during an edit session. The cast also includes Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Pattinson made the trip to Venice while on a break from filming 'The Batman: Part II', THR reports. The actor told the outlet he would have been 'devastated' to drop any of his planned 2026 projects, emphasizing his packed schedule.
The actor also addressed the real Chris Hansen's potential reaction to the film. 'I hope he likes the movie,' Pattinson said at the festival, according to both THR and TheWrap. He called Hansen's on-screen persona 'something magnetic about his presence'.
Early reactions reported by JoBlo praise Pattinson's 'powerhouse' and 'electric' performance in the gritty biopic. TheWrap's review called his turn 'delightfully gonzo' in what they termed a 'searing exploitation screed'.
