New Jersey is getting a little taste of Hollywood this month. Netflix has started filming its next big crime thriller, The Whisper Man, and honestly, the buzz is real. Big names like Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott have all been spotted shooting scenes in different towns around Union County. Some locals even caught glimpses of them on the job — like in Scotch Plains, where De Niro and Scott were filming inside a private house.
What’s kind of cool is how much of the state they’re using. After Scotch Plains, the crew moved over to Westfield, filming scenes at Wilson School and a quiet residential area nearby. Then it was on to Plainfield and Montclair. In Montclair, they actually set up inside this historic building on South Fullerton Avenue. That location was locked down for almost two weeks — from May 19 to 27 — with the whole production team, trucks, cables, and all the behind-the-scenes chaos.
Some residents said they saw prep happening way back in April, and by June it was full steam ahead. There were signs, equipment, trailers—basically, if you didn’t know a movie was filming, now you couldn’t miss it. One local even joked, “It looks like they’re setting up for a festival.” Honestly, it kind of does feel like that.
The Story Behind The Whisper Man
If you’re wondering what The Whisper Man is even about — it’s based on Alex North’s bestselling book, and the story’s pretty intense. It follows a man who recently lost his wife and is trying to rebuild life with his son in a small town. But then, his son goes missing. And what makes it creepier? The crime feels eerily similar to a decades-old case involving a serial killer who was known for whispering to his victims before taking them.
That’s where the dad’s estranged father—a former detective—comes in. Together, they dive back into the haunting past to figure out what’s going on. It’s one of those dark, emotional thrillers that digs into family, trauma, and old secrets.
The cast is top-tier. Besides De Niro and Scott, you've got Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton, Owen Teague, Hamish Linklater, and John Carroll Lynch. The movie’s being directed by James Ashcroft, and the script was written by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer. It’s also another project from AGBO — the Russo Brothers’ production company — which has been teaming up with Netflix on some huge titles lately.
Why This Means More Than Just Movie Magic
People in Montclair and surrounding towns are pretty excited. I mean, how often do you see Robert De Niro walking past your neighborhood school or shooting a scene outside your office building? Even if you're not into celebrity watching, the energy it brings is hard to ignore.
But there’s more to it than just excitement. These productions usually bring some good things with them — like a little extra business for local cafés and restaurants, a boost to the tourism vibe, and even temporary work for people in the area. Some residents have even been posting about how cool it is to see their town on screen.
Also, Netflix filming in actual neighborhoods — and not just on a soundstage in L.A. — feels like a big win for places like Montclair and Plainfield. It makes the scenes feel more real and gives smaller towns a bit of the spotlight. It’s not just about the movie anymore; it’s also about showing off the charm and vibe of real American communities.
