Robert De Niro Plays Retired Police Detective in Netflix’s The Whisper Man

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Robert De Niro is famous worldwide for playing memorable gangsters in iconic crime films. But his new role in an upcoming movie hints that he’s now heading in a different direction with his career.

Scheduled for release on Netflix in late 2026, The Whisper Man is a thriller starring a renowned actor as a retired police detective. The film is being produced by the Russo brothers, known for their work with Marvel, and will likely premiere directly on the streaming service, marking one of the few television dramas for the lead actor.

This new project continues Robert De Niro’s trend of playing authority figures, similar to his role in Zero Day where he investigated a serious cyber attack. Just like his character George Mullen, and unlike many of his famous roles as criminals, De Niro plays someone who upholds the law in The Whisper Man.

Robert De Niro’s Next Crime Role Will Be In Netflix’s The Whisper Man

The movie The Whisper Man has been in development since 2018, when the Russo brothers obtained the rights to the original novel. Netflix joined the project in 2022, and filming wrapped up in spring 2025.

Robert De Niro was a late addition to the cast of The Whisper Man. He plays the father of the main character, a crime writer played by Adam Scott, who seeks his help when his son is kidnapped.

The character Robert De Niro will play in the film is named Pete Willis in Alex North’s book. Pete is a former detective who previously investigated the infamous “Whisper Man” killings in Featherbank, which makes him uniquely qualified to find his grandson. However, he has a strained relationship with his son, Tom Kennedy, and they aren’t on speaking terms.

The Whisper Man Features De Niro Playing Another Law Enforcer

Netflix

Robert De Niro has spent six decades playing tough guys, often criminals and mobsters. But his new role in The Whisper Man suggests he’s trying something different. He plays Police Detective Peter Willis, following roles as George Mullen in Zero Day and Emmanuel Ashburn in Tin Soldier.

In this 2025 Netflix series, a former U.S. president named Mullen leads an investigation into a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, Ashburn is a government agent working to thwart a dangerous cult leader.

Robert De Niro’s recent films – Zero Day, Tin Soldier, and The Whisper Man – suggest a shift in his career. He now seems to be focusing on roles as experienced law enforcement officers, moving away from his previous portrayals of criminals. While he may still play tough guys occasionally, these roles will likely be less frequent going forward.

De Niro Has Other TV Projects Lined Up For 2027

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Following his debut in the TV series Zero Day, The Whisper Man suggests Robert De Niro plans to keep working in television. He already has additional TV projects scheduled for 2027.

The actor is set to star in the Paramount+ series Bobby Meritorious, playing a former police officer who became a prosecutor. He’s also taking on the lead role and an executive producer credit in the Entertainment One crime series Mr. Natural. While both shows are currently being developed, they’re expected to start filming in 2027.

It looks like Robert De Niro is trying something new later in his career. For fifty years, he’s been famous for playing gangsters in movies, but now he’s taking on roles as law enforcement officers on television.

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2026-02-14 19:50