EXCLUSIVE: The Whisper Man director and author on making Netflix’s chilling thriller with Robert De Niro and Adam Scott

The Whisper Man is a chilling new crime thriller directed by James Ashcroft and based on the novel by Alex North. The story follows a grieving crime writer, played by Adam Scott, who seeks the help of his retired police detective father, portrayed by Robert De Niro, to capture a serial killer responsible for his son's disappearance. In an interview with Digital Trends, Ashcroft and North discussed the development of this dark and haunting crime thriller and the universal theme of parenthood it explores.

For Alex North, the inspiration for The Whisper Man stemmed from his desire to write about fathers and sons. The idea hit him while he was poked a peek into his four-year-old son's front room, who was playing with an imaginary friend. This led to the thought of writing a story with imaginary friends that could be scary and raise doubts about their reality.

James Ashcroft mentioned that the theme of fathers and sons was a strong element throughout the novel, making it a compelling story to adapt into a film. He was also influenced by films like Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, and Zodiac, but aimed to make The Whisper Man a character-driven, actor-driven story. Ashcroft felt fortunate to work with a star-studded cast, including Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, and other talented actors, who brought their own unique styles to the project and contributed to its success.