“Why don’t you have a seat?”
The infamous Chris Hansen catchphrase is back in Primetime, a new film inspired by the real-world To Catch a Predator phenomenon. Set during the height of the controversial Dateline NBC series, the film takes viewers behind the cameras and into the world of online stings, hidden cameras and the production team working to turn those real investigations into prime television.
Directed by Lance Oppenheim and written by Ajon Singh, the new A24 film Primetime opens in theaters on September 25, 2026. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Hansen alongside a wide ensemble cast, including Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine and Anna Faris.
Primetime puts a dramatic spin on the story behind one of the era’s biggest true-crime TV shows. Here’s a closer look at the cast bringing this story to life.
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What Is ‘Primetime’ About?
Set during the height of To Catch a Predator, Primetime explores the people behind the hit Dateline NBC series as its popularity grows. Hansen and his team conduct sting operations designed to expose adults who are trying to meet up with minors, using decoys, hidden cameras and staged houses before confronting the suspects on camera. The real series became one of Dateline NBC’s most recognizable segments and turned Hansen into a household name.
The movie, however, goes beyond just recreating the familiar televised confrontations. It focuses on what happened behind the cameras as Hansen and the network pushed the increasingly popular program into bigger and bigger operations.
The film is inspired by journalist Luke Dittrich’s 2007 Esquire article, “Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die,” which examined a 2006 sting operation in Murphy, Texas involving assistant district attorney Bill Conradt. Conradt became a target of the investigation but never went to the sting house. Police instead went to his home, where he died by suicide as authorities arrived with an NBC camera crew.
Primetime is about more than catching suspected predators; it examines what happens when an investigative television program becomes a major entertainment attraction, blurring the lines between journalism, spectacle and the pursuit of ratings.
Get your first look at Primetime with the official trailer:
‘Primetime’ Cast & Characters List
Here’s a look at the Primetime cast and the characters they play:
Robert Pattinson as Chris Hansen
Known from: Twilight, The Batman, The Odyssey, The Drama, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen, the relentless Dateline NBC correspondent determined to expose adults who target minors online. Before becoming the face of To Catch a Predator, Hansen had already built a career as an investigative journalist, working in local television before joining NBC and taking on high-profile reporting for Dateline. In the beginning, Hansen is driven by a strong sense of purpose and sees To Catch a Predator as an opportunity to use investigative journalism to protect vulnerable people and hold predators accountable.
As the series takes off, however, his determination becomes increasingly tangled with the attention and influence that come with being a celebrity. Hansen pushes for bigger and more ambitious operations to keep the show’s momentum going. But as the fame and attention grow, the spotlight begins to blind him to what he originally set out to do.
Merritt Wever as Andie Bender
Known from: Nurse Jackie, Michael Clayton, Marriage Story, Birdman, Christy
Merritt Wever plays Andie Bender, a producer working closely with Chris Hansen as To Catch a Predator takes off. Andie is ambitious and driven by the network’s push for bigger audiences, always looking for ways to make the show more compelling for viewers. She prioritizes the show’s ratings above all else, and soon finds herself blurring the line between investigative journalism and sensationalized entertainment.
Skyler Gisondo as Dan Plumb
Known from: Booksmart, The Social Dilemma, Vacation, Superman, Santa Clarita Diet
Skyler Gisondo plays Dan Plumb, a young actor who joins the To Catch a Predator operation as one of its decoys. After potential targets are lured through online conversations, Dan poses as a teenager when they arrive at the sting house. He then comes face-to-face with the men the team has targeted before Hansen and the authorities make their presence known.
At first, Dan is excited by the opportunity and the chance to work alongside someone he admires, but his view of Hansen and the show begins to change as he become privy to what happens behind the cameras.
Matthew Maher as Xavier Von Erck
Known from: Gone Baby Gone, Captain Marvel, Relay, The Bride!, It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Matthew Maher plays Xavier Von Erck, the founder of Perverted-Justice and an online vigilante who helps drive the sting operations featured on To Catch a Predator. Based on the real-life Von Erck, he works behind the scenes, posing as a minor online and helping lure potential predators into meeting the show’s decoys. He is fiercely committed to the cause and has next to no hesitation about taking matters into his own hands.
Phoebe Bridgers as Del Harvey
Known from: I Saw the TV Glow, Boygenius and her solo music career
Phoebe Bridgers plays Del Harvey, a Perverted-Justice operative and lead decoy who works alongside Xavier Von Erck on the To Catch a Predator sting operations. Based on the actual Del Harvey, she poses as a teenage decoy online, helping lure potential predators into meeting the show’s team before taking on the role of a teenage decoy when they arrive at the sting house. Del is deeply committed to the work and plays a key role in the undercover operations.
Bokeem Woodbine as Cortland Gunn
Known from: Halo, Fargo, Ray, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Bokeem Woodbine plays Cortland Gunn, the Rockwall County sheriff who becomes involved in the To Catch a Predator operation. Gunn is eager to bring suspected predators to justice and takes particular offense when the investigation leads to someone within the local legal system. He quickly gets behind Hansen and his team, helping push the operation toward its most consequential confrontation.
Alex Winter as Bill Conradt
Known from: Adulthood, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, The Lost Boys, Freaked
Alex Winter plays Bill Conradt, a Texas assistant district attorney who becomes the target of a To Catch a Predator sting. Conradt is based on the actual man at the center of the 2006 Murphy, Texas operation that inspired much of Primetime. After exchanging messages online with someone posing as a teenage boy, Conradt becomes the focus of the investigation, though he never makes it to the sting house. When police instead arrive at his home with an NBC camera crew in tow, the operation takes a turn.
Anna Faris as Mary Hansen
Known from: The House Bunny, Just Friends, Brokeback Mountain, Scary Movie, Mom
Anna Faris plays Mary Hansen, Chris Hansen’s wife, who watches from the sidelines as her husband’s career becomes increasingly consuming. As the show explodes in popularity, Mary sees the toll it takes on their personal lives and begins questioning whether she can continue standing by Chris as the controversy surrounding his work grows.
Jeff Zucker as Himself
Known from: NBC, CNN
Jeff Zucker appears as himself in Primetime, stepping into the role of the NBC executive overseeing the network during the rise of To Catch a Predator. The film portrays Zucker as focused on the show’s growing audience and potential, pushing Hansen’s show into the coveted 9 p.m. primetime slot.
Tony Revolori as MarriedAndLookingForFun31313
Known from: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Dope, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Monster High
Tony Revolori plays MarriedAndLookingForFun31313, an ex-Marine who becomes one of the targets caught in a To Catch a Predator sting. He believes he’s arriving to meet a 13-year-old girl and is confronted by Chris Hansen once he enters the house. Hansen questions him about why he came and what he intended to do, leading to one of the show’s signature confrontations.
Watch More Movies With DIRECTV
Whether you remember To Catch a Predator from its original Dateline NBC run or are curious to see the story behind the cameras, Primetime brings a controversial chapter of television history to the big screen.
Catch the film in theaters September 25, 2026, then keep the entertainment going with DIRECTV, where you can find even more movies to watch.
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Frequently asked questions
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