Steve Newall: Flicks.co.nz editor on Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott joining the cast of James Ashcroft’s new thriller

Kiwi director James Ashcroft is working on his latest project for Netflix - and two of TV's biggest names are set to join the cast.

Michelle Monaghan of The White Lotus fame and Severance star Adam Scott have signed on to the crime thriller The Whisper Man - based on the New York Times bestseller.

Flicks.co.nz editor Steve Newall explains further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb a little bit of Sam Fender there, people watching
bringing us into our entertainment segment, and I'm joined by

(00:31):
Steve Newell, editor at Flickstock cotoed and.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Said, good morning, good morning to you.

Speaker 4 (00:36):
Key. We directed James Ashcroft. He is what's his next film?
Because he's just released a film, just.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
About to release a film, I think far from a
household name at the stage James Ashcroft. He's released one
film to date, which was twenty twenty one's Coming Home
in the Dark, which was a fantastic creepy thriller. He
has another film that's about to open here shortly. But
while we're waiting for the Rule of Jenny Pen which

(01:04):
is here in a couple of weeks, there's been a
big cast announcement for his third film, which is about
to go into production. It was, as previously reported, The
Whisperman is Ashcroft's thriller for Netflix, starring Robert de Niro. So,
if you're sitting down with a napkin to make your
list of actors you want to be in your film,

(01:25):
who would you pinch yourself over. That's probably the first
name on the list right, So that casting news came
out a couple of weeks ago. The Whisperman is based
on a novel by Alex Cross. It's about a widowed
crime writer who, after his son is abducted, looks to
his estranged father, a retired police detective, for help, only
to discover a connection with the decades old case. But

(01:48):
the casting announced overnight via Hollywood website deadline dot Com
Deadlines reporting that the stars of two of TV's biggest
series right now are also joining the cast, Michelle Monaghan
of The White Lotus and Adam Scott of Severance. So
Ashcroft's released one film audiences here in Alt and now

(02:12):
he's gearing up to make his third film with Robert Denara,
Adam Scott and Michelle Mode.

Speaker 4 (02:17):
That is really impressive. The Rule of Genny Pen which
is releasing in the next week or two.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, that's out. That's got a formal release date of
March twenty ye. There are sneak screenings around. I noticed
that there are a few screenings this weekend around the
country and during the week as well. This is another
really creepy thriller. I think we'll maybe going to that
in a bit more detail next week.

Speaker 4 (02:34):
Well, I was just going to say it stars Jeffrey
Rush and John let's go two other really big names.
I think he thought to himself, you know, I mean,
he really wanted to work with those two actors. We're
going to have Jeffrey Rush actually on the show in
the next week or two as well to talk about this.
But I think he thought, Wow, I've landed these two actors,
you know that I really really wanted to work with.
I've got the perfect people for these roles. And then

(02:55):
to hear that about his third film is remarkable.

Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, it's a real strike while the iron's hot kind
of casting, right, like Severance. Severance has just been confirmed
as Apple TV plus's highest viewed a show, the second
season of Severance, which is airing now. The White Loaders
also obviously HBO's flagships.

Speaker 4 (03:14):
I love he's going big. I love he's going. This
is what I want.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, absolutely so. This is this is Ashcroft directing for
the Russo Brothers. They are the producers on this film.
So they've got a very extensive Netflix deal. I guess
if it's a name that's unfamiliar to people. They're the
directors for hire that made a bunch of big Marvel
movies and have gone on to start carving out their

(03:42):
own streaming niche as well.

Speaker 4 (03:44):
Awesome news and other awesome news is The Righteous Gemstones
is returning for one final season on Neon.

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, this is really exciting. I love the show so much.

Speaker 4 (03:54):
Why you put me onto this?

Speaker 3 (03:55):
And I think it's really easy to go to think
as I did, that a show that kind of Lampoun's
televangelists would be too obvious and too shooting fish in
a barrel and it's it's just too easy a target.
But the writer's Jimstones has consistently overreached and become a
show where I've spent three seasons so far going how

(04:17):
are they allowed to make this? Why does it doesn't
make Does this make economic sense? Does this make taste good?
Taste sense? Still not sure, but season four opens with
the spectacular first episode that you'll be able to see
for yourselves tomorrow. We're precluded from saying too much about
it other than that you're in for one heck of

(04:39):
a surprise with the first episode of season four.

Speaker 4 (04:41):
Look, if you haven't jumped on board. I can remember
when you first recommended it to me, you said, look,
give it a couple of epps, you know, stick it out.
And that was really good advice because as that first
season went on and on, it just got better and
better and better.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 4 (04:55):
And it's like you've got you've got a grasp on
the better grasp on the characters. You sort of understood
the humor about any Yeah, you got into it.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
Well.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
I think Danny McBride has very much the his show.
He's the star's he's the writer, he directs a bunch
of episodes. His sensibility is riddled right through this. So
if you're if you're a fan of Eastbound and Down,
et cetera, you'll you'll you'll love this. But yes, it's
it's honed on on some very specific things about its characters.
And as I just learned from watching some clips of
Jimmy Kimmel the other evening, this season has had to

(05:25):
deploy how do I put this on a Sunday morning?
A few private anatomy doubles?

Speaker 4 (05:32):
OKAYK, I think I think we get the picture.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
And what I learned about private anatomy doubles. If I
may share. One wanted bit is that allegedly they don't
get to see the private anatomy before it arrives on set,
presumably because people don't want pictures of their private anatomy
being sent out. So you've just got to hope to
hire the private anatomy guy and gets you kind of
get what you get and you don't get upset.

Speaker 4 (05:58):
I love it, Steve, Oh, look, all good news today
abouts We'll take that on a Sunday morning. I'm very
excited to hear what James Ashcroft's up to. And of
course The Righteous Gemstones is season four kicking off on
Neon tomorrow. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks It'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio