# Primetime: What's Real in the Predator Story > Robert Pattinson stars in a surreal film about To Catch a Predator. Here's what actually happened versus what the movie invented. - Title: Primetime: What's Real in the Predator Story · Vanity Fair - Summary: Robert Pattinson stars in a surreal film about To Catch a Predator. Here's what actually happened versus what the movie invented. Primetime is a fever dream… - Keywords: primetime, to catch a predator, robert pattinson, alex winter, lance oppenheim, chris hansen, emily bicks, bill conradt, perverted justice, dateline nbc, decoy dan, del harvey - Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/primetime-to-catch-a-predator-movie-true-story - Author: Samantha Bergeson - Published: 2026-09-24T19:27:28.063+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: primetime, to catch a predator, robert pattinson, alex winter, lance oppenheim, chris hansen, emily bicks, bill conradt, perverted justice, dateline nbc, decoy dan, del harvey ## Pattinson plays Hansen in surreal film Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen in Primetime, a new film about To Catch a Predator. Director Lance Oppenheim bills it as a fever dream fantasy inspired by true events, not a biopic. ## Hansen unaware of film until nearly done Chris Hansen stated he didn't know Primetime was being made until it was nearly finished. He declined to attend early screenings and told The Hollywood Reporter the film is a complete work of fiction attached to his real name. > There wouldn't be a movie if I hadn't created the Predator investigative series ## To Catch a Predator began in 2004 To Catch a Predator started as a Dateline NBC segment in 2004, working with internet watchdog group Perverted Justice to film undercover sting operations against alleged pedophiles. ## Emily Bicks was a 19-year-old decoy Emily Bicks, a New York University student, was cast as a decoy at age 19 thanks to her youthful appearance. She was paid about $9,000 total for three weekend shoots and received journalism credits. ## Bicks answered the door unexpectedly When a target arrived early at the first shoot in Greenville, Ohio, producers asked Bicks to answer the door. She agreed, surrounded by law enforcement, and the role expanded beyond just appearing on webcam. > Oh God, I don't know. That wasn't part of the situation. ## Decoy Dan based on real actor The character Dan Plumb in Primetime is mostly based on Dan Schrack, who auditioned thinking he'd do dramatic reenactments. He was paid $5,000 per episode and later became a broadcast journalist. ## Del Harvey was a lead decoy Phoebe Bridgers plays Del Harvey, a real Perverted Justice operative who was 21 when she started volunteering in 2003. She posed as both young boys and girls during sting operations before Bicks was hired. ## Harvey later led Twitter's safety team After Predator ended in 2007, Del Harvey became the first executive in charge of Twitter's spam and abuse unit. She spent 13 years on content moderation and safety policy before leaving in 2021. ## Producer character is fictional Merritt Wever plays producer Andie Bender, a fictional character who might resemble real producer Lynn Keller. Andie pushes for sensational content, but Bicks says the real show didn't pressure crew to cross boundaries. ## Hansen mentored decoys on set In real life, Chris Hansen was extremely dedicated to the show, reviewing chat logs late into the night and coaching decoys. Bicks says he was helpful and focused but they didn't speak outside of filming. > He would calm my nerves...He was one hundred percent in and focused. ## Hansen had no involvement in film Chris Hansen did not participate in Primetime's production. The closest connection was when a producer bought him a Cameo video for the director before the project was revealed to Hansen. ## Bill Conradt was a Texas prosecutor Bill Conradt was chief felony assistant district attorney in Rockwall County, Texas. In fall 2006, he began exchanging messages with a Perverted Justice volunteer posing as a 13-year-old boy. ## Alex Winter researched Conradt deeply Alex Winter, who made a documentary about child abuse in Hollywood, researched Conradt as a standalone figure. He spoke with other district attorneys and Conradt's former colleagues to understand his world. > I just wanted Bill to be a human being because Bill Conradt, whatever you think of him, was absolutely a human being. ## Conradt died by suicide in 2006 On November 5, 2006, the Predator team was in Texas trying to lure Conradt. When he didn't show at the sting house, police obtained a search warrant for his home. Before Hansen could speak with him, Conradt fatally shot himself. ## Schrack regrets being part of episode In the 2025 documentary Predators, decoy Dan Schrack says he would never film that Texas episode again. He struggles with knowing he may have been the last person Conradt spoke with before police arrived. > I don't like knowing that I could have been the last person that this guy had a conversation with ## Conradt's family sued NBC Conradt's sister Patricia sued NBC for $105 million. The lawsuit was settled in June 2008 for an undisclosed sum after a judge ruled NBC had crossed from responsible journalism into reckless intrusion. ## Bicks questions the show's impact Bicks was heartbroken by Conradt's death and surprised by the police force used at his house. She wonders if the show actually made a difference or just exposed mentally ill people on national television. > Are we making it better? Did it make a difference? I don't know. ## Hansen now runs TruBlu network Chris Hansen founded TruBlu, a streaming platform with programs similar to Predator. He's advertising before Primetime screenings and hopes to expand into lifestyle content like a Southern cooking show. ## Bicks plans to watch despite doubts Emily Bicks says she has to see Primetime out of curiosity, even though she might hate it for inaccuracies. She's still processing the show's legacy and its complicated moral questions. > Oh yeah. I have to. ## Key takeaway Primetime is a fever dream fantasy inspired by true events, not a factual account. The show's real decoys and producers confirm some details but dispute others, especially around how the Conradt episode unfolded.