Lance Oppenheim Bribed Robert Pattinson With 200 Zyn Canisters to Star in ‘Primetime’

The actor eventually agreed to portray Chris Hansen in the film, which chronicles the intense production, ethical dilemmas and media sensationalism behind 'To Catch a Predator.' Primetime director Lance Oppenheim said he used Robert Pattinson's Zyn addiction to help convince him to play the To Catch a Predator host. It’s no secret that it took some persuading to get Robert Pattinson to portray Chris Hansen in Lance Oppenheim‘s Primetime. However, the director is revealing just how he bribed the actor to take on the role. Pattinson initially joined the film only as a producer, but Oppenheim recently told Vulture that he used Pattinson’s Zyn addiction to help convince him to play the To Catch a Predator host.

“Rob, at the time, was grappling with a Zyn addiction,” the filmmaker said, referring to the nicotine pouch brand. Around that time, there was also a Zyn shortage in the U.S., so Oppenheim came up with the idea to recruit a friend in Canada to send 200 canisters to Pattinson’s Los Angeles home. Following the special delivery, Oppenheim also dropped off the latest version of the Primetime script with a letter that began, “Dear Chris Han-Zyn.” Pattinson eventually agreed to take on the lead role. “It was like LeBron [James] making the announcement that he was joining the Heat,” the director added. Primetime