In ABC’s summertime thriller The Whispers, someone — or something — is manipulating our most innocent and beloved asset — our children — to commit the unthinkable.
When several D.C.-area children start communicating with an imaginary friend named Drill and the mysterious games he convinces them to play turn dangerous, FBI child specialist Claire Bennigan (American Horror Story’s Lily Rabe) is called in to investigate.
On the other side of the world, Defense Department operative Wes Lawrence (Revenge’s Barry Sloane) unearths a haunting and otherworldly geological phenomenon. And closer to home, a riveting and mysterious man named John Doe (Heroes’ Milo Ventimiglia) lies in a hospital bed covered with nonsensical tattoos and muttering in Arabic. How are these two men related and can they help answer the question: What is happening to our children?
(ABC/Bob D’Amico)
“The thing about children that makes them so vulnerable is also what makes them so beautiful, which is their openness, their ability to believe in anything,” says Rabe. “Children are these wide-open, beautiful vessels. Yet, it’s terrifying to think that something negative can then get into these porous, precious beings.”
Soo Hugh, The Whispers’ creator and one of its executive producers (another is Steven Spielberg), explains further: “One of the things Drill manipulates is he understands children and understands their vulnerabilities.”
Bennigan’s efforts to understand Drill and why he’s targeting specific children become even more frantic when Drill’s attentions turn personal, and the “games” that Drill instructs his pawns to play — and the tasks they complete — turn more and more ominously specific. “These kids are all chosen for a very specific reason based on who they have access to. And they all have tasks that they are being asked to do, questions that they are being forced to answer,” says producer Zach Estrin. “But certainly, we’re not doing an evil-kid-of-the-week show.”
But children are a central part of the show, and the young actors portraying them are integral to the show’s success. Rabe has been blown away with her youthful costars — her most frequent scene partners. She calls now 7-year-old actress Abby Ryder Fortson — who is jaw-dropping in the show’s pilot — “One of the best actresses I’ve ever worked with.” Rabe continues, “She’s incredible. Every take was different. She’s all of the things you ever want in a scene partner, which is someone to be unpredictable, and challenge you, and connect with you. You just never got the same thing twice, and yet she really had an understanding of the material. It was so beyond her years.”
Rabe also starred in another famously secretive series, Ryan Murphy’s anthology American Horror Story, so she enjoys that the lead-up to The Whispers premiere has been shrouded in mystery. “There’s so many things that you don’t want to give away, that we’re not supposed to reveal for the audience’s benefit,” she says. And when the intricate thriller premieres this June, we can’t wait for what The Whispers say next.
The Whispers > ABC > Mondays at 10pm ET/PT beginning June 1
Where is the show? What happened?
hey The Whispers i have more questions to ask you so please get back to me when you can please and thanks love Jennifer Belleville
Jennifer,
I have tried to email the address you provided, but my messages have bounced back. What are your questions? Of course, I don’t actually work for ABC, or “The Whispers,” but I can try and answer your questions as best I can.
-Kellie
my questions are why do u have to cancel the show? how are we going to find out how to kill drill and what is going on after tht presidents daughter did the call and now they said we have a problem i really want to fidn out what their going to do now?
Hi Jennifer,
I just got an email from ABC that “The Whispers” has been cancelled. Bummer. Here is a link to the article that I just posted.
Best,
Kellie
Hi Jennifer- I hope to see The Whispers back on ABC next summer.
hello please email me back i have some things to tell u tht everybody keep asking me to tell u guys
Hey thw whispers i have to ask you guys some things so please get back to me by tomorrow please?????!!!!!
hey so what are u guys doing to our show?
hey have you heard anything yet please get back to me soon thanks so much ur the best
hey can u email me back and answer my question please
Hi Jennifer,
I haven’t heard anything from ABC about The Whispers. I think the first season did well for them (the ending of the season finale was awesome!) I will do some research tomorrow when I am in the office and get back to you.
-Kellie
thanks so much please dont forget to get back to me i love tht show and i will be hust if they stop it
Have u heard anything yet
Hi Jennifer,
I contacted the show’s publicist who shares your love for The Whispers. He’s playing the waiting game too, and told me that it’s possible that the show will return next summer (This show is soooo perfect for summer) but said, “We don’t know about shows for next season until May 2016 when we announce our new schedule.” I know it’s nothing concrete or specific, but if the guy who promotes the show doesn’t know, then no one knows.
But, he was really excited that the show has such a vocal fan!!
-Kellie
thank u so much i really love u guys just please and summer is too far away but i think i cant wait thank you but thanks there amazing
hey i heard tht u might be canceling the show please dont cancel it everyone loves it and u cant stop it on the best part either….!!!:'( this is our favorite show of all time please dont hurt us like this my ame is Jennifer Belleville so please keep it on the air!!!!?:'(