EXCLUSIVE: Netflix and AGBO‘s highly-anticipated adaptation of the Alex North novel The Whisper Man is gaining some serious momentum as sources tell Deadline Robert De Niro is set to star in the crime thriller. James Ashcroft is set to direct with Ben Jacoby adapting the script. Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco will produce for AGBO, marking the sixth film out of Netflix and AGBO’s successful, ongoing partnership.
Based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North, the story revolves around an a widow crime writer, who after his eight-year-old son is abducted, looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.” Kassee Whiting will exec produce for AGBO as will Marcus Viscidi.
Production is set to start this spring on the East Coast.
“AGBO is excited to be embarking on our 6th film with our incredible partners at Netflix. The Whisper Man is a gripping thriller but at its core is a poignant and complex story of father and sons. We are grateful to have one of the finest actors of his generation, Robert De Niro, anchoring that story and with the remarkable James Ashcroft directing,” said Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Creative Office, AGBO.
With their three films taking in over 250 million views and over half a billion hours viewed, AGBO and the Russo Brothers continue their successful partnership with Netflix following the 2020 release of Chris Hemsworth starrer Extraction, the 2022 release of the Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans starrer The Gray Man (#7 Most Popular Netflix film) and the 2023 release of Extraction 2. All three films reached the Netflix Top 10 films list in 93 countries and their respective campaigns generated a collective 1.38 billion social impressions.
Next up from AGBO is the highly anticipated adventure sci-fi film The Electric State, starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Norman, with Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci.
De Niro and Netflix continue their strong relationship that began with the Oscar-nominated epic The Irishamn that the Oscar-winner starred in and will continue with the highly anticipated drama series Zero Day, the first drama series he will star in. He is also set to star in Warner Bros. The Alto Knights where he plays dual roles.
De Niro is repped by CAA, AGBO is repped by CAA, Jacoby is represented by Verve, LIT Entertainment and Lev Ginsburg and Ashcroft is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
