The Whisper Man Sets August 28 Netflix Premiere

Robert De Niro and Adam Scott are heading into darker territory with The Whisper Man, a new American crime thriller based on Alex North’s bestselling 2019 novel. Directed by James Ashcroft, the film is scheduled to make its digital debut on Netflix on August 28, 2026.

The adaptation brings together a high-profile cast that includes De Niro, Scott, Michael Keaton, Michelle Monaghan, Hamish Linklater, and Owen Teague. Scott plays Tom Kennedy, the central character at the heart of the story.

A Father and Son Drawn Into a Killer’s Dark Legacy

The Whisper Man centers on Tom Kennedy, a widowed crime writer who moves to the quiet town of Featherbank with his young son, Jake, hoping to rebuild their lives after the sudden death of his wife.

Their new home, however, carries a disturbing history.

Two decades earlier, a notorious serial killer named Frank Carter terrorized Featherbank. Known as “The Whisper Man,” Carter became infamous for luring young boys from their homes by whispering outside their windows at night.

Soon after Tom and Jake arrive, another young boy disappears in circumstances strikingly similar to Carter’s crimes. The case raises the possibility that a copycat killer or an accomplice may be carrying on the old pattern.

The situation becomes even more frightening when Jake begins hearing a quiet voice tapping and whispering at his bedroom window.

With his son potentially in danger, Tom turns to his estranged father, a retired detective who was responsible for catching Frank Carter decades earlier. Together, they must confront the killer’s legacy before Jake becomes the next victim.

From Bestseller to Screen

Released in June 2019, Alex North’s debut novel The Whisper Man quickly became both a critical and commercial success, earning a place on the New York Times bestseller list.

The book drew particular attention for combining the unsettling atmosphere of supernatural horror with the more grounded elements of a traditional crime investigation and police procedural. That blend helped distinguish the novel within the thriller genre.

The film adaptation is produced by AGBO, the production company founded by the Russo Brothers.

James Ashcroft Directs

James Ashcroft brings experience in psychological thrillers and horror to the project. The New Zealand director, screenwriter, producer, and former actor first attracted widespread international attention with his feature directorial debut, Coming Home in the Dark (2021).

The brutal thriller, adapted from an Owen Marshall short story, follows a road trip that turns into a terrifying nightmare. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and drew the attention of major Hollywood studios.

Ashcroft later directed The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024), another psychological thriller adapted from an Owen Marshall short story. The film stars John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush.

With The Whisper Man, Ashcroft now turns his attention to another dark mystery, this time adapting one of Alex North’s most successful novels for the screen.