{
  "id": 10300472,
  "title": "Primetime director says only a Batman could play Chris Hansen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/primetime-director-says-only-a-batman-could-play-chris-hansen",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-27T15:28:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/chris-hansen-robert-pattinson-batman-oppenheim"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In an interview with Variety, Primetime director Lance Oppenheim expressed his thoughts on former To Catch A Predator creator Chris Hansen's reaction to a film about his work. Oppenheim, a fan of Hansen, noted that Hansen's reaction is exactly what the film is about, describing it as a \"hall of mirrors\" with adult actors pretending to be children and sets that resemble something from Blue Velvet. Oppenheim also explained that he cast Robert Pattinson in the title role because Pattinson was unsure if he wanted to act in the film, and Oppenheim believed Pattinson was the only person who could effectively portray the character. Oppenheim compared Hansen's character, Chris Hansen, to a superhero who wants control and justice when dealing with potential predators. Oppenheim stated that Pattinson's performance as Chris Hansen is like a Batman, with a utility belt full of neuroses and an unwavering drive for justice. This casting decision might result in viewers seeing new shades in Pattinson's portrayal of the character, including the image of him awkwardly trying on a Batman costume in front of a mirror.",
  "summary": "Lance Oppenheim explains that Robert Pattinson had the unique experience to portray a self-obsessed vigilante.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}