Robert Pattinson Reveals the Bizarre Method He Used To Master Chris Hansen’s Voice for ‘Primetime’

Method acting has produced some legendary preparation stories over the years, from drastic physical transformations to actors staying in character for months at a time. Every so often, though, an actor’s prep process sounds so strange that it becomes its own piece of pop culture trivia before the film even hits theaters.

That’s exactly what’s happening with A24’s upcoming crime drama, which dramatizes the rise of one of television’s most recognizable true crime hosts. Ahead of the film’s release, fans have already been buzzing about just how convincingly its lead actor managed to nail one of the most distinctive voices in broadcast journalism.

Robert Pattinson has revealed he mastered Chris Hansen’s voice for ‘Primetime’ by walking around the streets reciting Hansen’s own podcast out loud, describing the experience as leaving passersby thoroughly confused about what was going on. Speaking with GQ India, Pattinson explained that perfecting the tone was incredibly difficult given how unique Hansen’s voice really is, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Pattinson said he leaned heavily on Hansen’s podcast, “Have a Seat with Chris Hansen,” where the former Dateline correspondent discusses his old cases, to study the host’s speech patterns firsthand. He admitted the material itself was fairly dark, making his public street rehearsals look even stranger to anyone within earshot.

Beyond the vocal preparation, Pattinson also opened up about how deeply involved he was in shaping the project from its earliest stages. He revealed he originally signed on purely as a producer after connecting with Ajon Singh’s screenplay, later pushing for Lance Oppenheim to direct after having previously worked with him on a documentary project.

Pattinson explained that he saw something distinctly Oliver Stone or Brian De Palma in the material, believing Oppenheim’s directing style would suit the story’s tone perfectly. Calling it the first project he’s produced from the very beginning, he described the entire process as a genuine team effort rather than a typical star vehicle.

‘Primetime’ follows the origins of the controversial NBC news magazine series ‘To Catch a Predator,’ which saw Hansen confronting adult men who arrived at sting houses expecting to meet minors, often resulting in their arrest. The film marks Oppenheim’s narrative feature directorial debut, with Pattinson leading a cast that includes Phoebe Bridgers, Merritt Wever and Skyler Gisondo.

Chris Hansen, who wasn’t directly involved in the production, has offered a somewhat mixed reaction to Pattinson’s portrayal after seeing the trailer. He acknowledged that Pattinson had clearly practiced imitating him and that there’s a pretty good imitation on display, though he called the performance somewhat overly dramatic compared to who he actually is, according to Variety.

Hansen noted that his own family has been even more enthusiastic about the impression than he has, adding that it’s less about his personal opinion and more about how audiences ultimately receive it. He was firmer, however, in distancing himself from some of the film’s fictionalized events, stressing that the character says and does things he never actually did in real life.

Despite his reservations about certain creative liberties, Hansen has continued engaging publicly with the film’s rollout, even purchasing pre-show advertising to run before ‘Primetime’ screenings promoting his own streaming network. That mix of participation and pushback has added an extra layer of intrigue to the film’s marketing ahead of its theatrical debut.

‘Primetime’ is set to hit theaters on September 25, giving audiences their first full chance to judge Pattinson’s unconventional preparation process for themselves. Between the viral trailer moments and Hansen’s own public commentary, the film has already generated plenty of conversation before a single ticket has been sold.

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