Chris Hansen buys ad space ahead of ‘Primetime’ screenings tied to his true-crime brand

A24’s Primetime is set for upcoming screenings, and Deadline reports that Chris Hansen has purchased advertising space ahead of those events as part of a promotional push connected to his true-crime streaming network. The report says Hansen’s decision centers on the film’s potential to draw mainstream viewers to the same genre lane Hansen helped define for television audiences.

Deadline reports that Hansen is not involved with the making of Primetime. Instead, the film is described as a thriller that includes a portrayal of Hansen by actor Robert Pattinson. The film is also described in the report as being penned by Ajon Singh, with the marketing positioning it as a dramatized, entertainment-focused entry into the true-crime ecosystem.

According to Deadline, Hansen’s ad-buy is timed to reach audiences before the public screening window. The report frames the move as commercially motivated, with Hansen “something to gain” from the attention surrounding the movie’s release cycle even without creative involvement on the production side.

Deadline’s account also notes the contrast between Hansen’s hands-on brand interests and the separate creative ownership of the film project. The report characterizes Primetime as an A24 release and specifically points to the fact that Hansen’s involvement is limited to the advertising strategy rather than the movie’s creation.

The Deadline story indicates that the advertising purchase comes as Primetime prepares to circulate more widely through its screening plans. That puts the ad campaign in the same viewing window as the film’s promotional surge, potentially capturing viewers who come to the screenings out of curiosity about the story’s dramatized true-crime framing.

Hansen’s campaign is linked to the true-crime streaming network Deadline identifies in its reporting. The report does not describe any changes to Hansen’s network programming in response to the movie, focusing instead on the use of ad space to align the brand with the audience attention generated by Primetime.

No further details were provided in the Deadline summary about the specific ad placements, the duration of the purchase, or whether the advertising is tied to particular theater events, locations, or partner platforms. The next material step for audiences and industry observers will be to see how the marketing rollout and screening attendance translate into engagement for Hansen’s network during the film’s early exposure period.