Chris Hansen Refuses NDA, Denied 'Primetime' Screening — SkimNews
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- Chris Hansen arrived at A24's offices for a 10 a.m. private screening of 'Primetime' on Thursday but walked out without watching the film after his attorneys advised against signing the legal agreement presented to him.
- On Fox News' 'Jesse Watters Primetime,' Hansen claimed A24's lawyers wanted him to 'sign away my rights to my name, image and brand' as well as any potential legal rights tied to the film.
- A source close to A24 characterized the document as a standard NDA required of all preview audiences to prevent spoilers and protect IP — a characterization that directly conflicts with Hansen's account.
- Hansen noted that other people who have seen the film did not have to sign an NDA, and he himself has still not watched a minute of it beyond the trailer.
- Hansen emphasized he has no financial stake in 'Primetime' and was never paid or brought on as a consultant: 'I'm just a working reporter, and I'm not learned in the sophisticated ways of Hollywood.'
- A24 has marketed 'Primetime' as 'inspired by true events' rather than a biopic; the Lance Oppenheim-directed film, written by Ajon Singh, opens in theaters Sept. 25 after its Venice Film Festival premiere in competition.
Why it matters: The dispute turns on whether A24's agreement was a routine preview NDA or, as Hansen claims, an unusually broad waiver of name, image, and legal rights. With Venice premiering the film days after the screening refusal and a Sept. 25 theatrical release, A24 faces public scrutiny over its legal posture toward the real person its movie dramatizes — without his cooperation or endorsement.
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