Buoyed by strong early tracking in the second-screen space, Netflix announced Thursday that its highly anticipated adaptation of “The Whisper Man” is projected to serve as premium background noise in over 40 million households this weekend.
LOS ANGELES — The $85 million serial-killer procedural, starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Monaghan, represents a massive strategic push into the rapidly expanding market of subscribers who need something playing on the television while they look at their phones.
The James Ashcroft-directed project was reportedly fast-tracked after internal algorithmic data revealed a critical Q3 shortage of twisty, dimly-lit crime narratives that can be easily followed while scrolling through real estate listings. CAA reps for Adam Scott, who co-stars in the adaptation of Alex North's novel, confirmed the actor signed a lucrative multi-picture deal to look deeply concerned in a rain-slicked trench coat for at least three more mid-budget thrillers.
By attaching an A-lister of De Niro's caliber to a generic story about abducted New Jersey boys, we have engineered a four-quadrant hit that viewers can confidently pause to take the dog out, completely forget to unpause, and still feel like they watched a movie.
Industry insiders note the film’s pacing was meticulously calibrated in post-production, ensuring the central mystery of the small-town abductions is explained via heavy exposition right around the 45-minute mark, perfectly timing out with the average viewer finishing a load of delicates. Co-stars Hamish Linklater and Owen Teague were reportedly brought on board specifically to provide recognizable, slightly suspicious faces that audiences can point to from the kitchen before falling asleep on the couch.
Sources close to the streamer confirmed Netflix has already secured the rights to five more Alex North novels, promising investors a cinematic universe of grim, blue-tinted New Jersey towns designed specifically to wake up suburban fathers at 2:00 a.m. when the end credits suddenly start blaring.