Take a Seat: Chris Hansen Hijacks Robert Pattinson's A24 Movie With Theater Ads

Moviegoers settling into their seats for Robert Pattinson's upcoming A24 feature are in for a familiar surprise during the pre-show previews. Longtime investigative reporter Chris Hansen has officially bought ad space to promote his own crime streaming service directly in front of *Primetime*. According to reports, the former *Dateline NBC* personality secured exclusive commercial slots that will play before screenings of the movie. In the custom advertisement, Hansen delivers his signature line, telling audience members in the auditorium to "take a seat right over there" before introducing his independent platform, TruBlu.

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Directed by Lance Oppenheim, *Primetime* is a drama inspired by the explosive rise and eventual fallout of *To Catch a Predator*, the viral 2000s television phenomenon. Pattinson portrays a host who confronts suspected online predators inside sting houses set up by law enforcement and producers. While the movie pulls heavy inspiration from Hansen's real-life career and cultural footprint, the broadcaster is not involved with the A24 production in any official capacity. Rather than contesting the project, Hansen capitalized on the buzz by targeting the exact audience interested in his legacy.

BUZZBEAT

The promotional campaign is set to run exclusively ahead of *Primetime* for at least the initial four weeks of the film's theatrical release. The spots highlight TruBlu, a subscription network dedicated to true-crime documentaries and sting shows, including Hansen's current series, *Takedown With Chris Hansen*. By placing his app front and center before Pattinson's fictionalized take hits the screen, Hansen is ensuring that anyone buying a ticket for the cinematic retelling also gets a look at his real-world operation. It remains to be seen how audiences will react when the iconic presenter pops up on screen before the main feature begins.