Michael Keaton is joining Robert De Niro in the cast of an upcoming Netflix crime thriller. Last year’s Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice proved a triumph for Keaton, returning to one of his most famous roles for the first time in nearly 40 years. De Niro, meanwhile, has been incredibly busy of late, starring in both the Netflix series Zero Day and the gangster film The Alto Knights.

Both are genuine screen legends with numerous iconic performances to their names, but only once have De Niro and Keaton found themselves on the same cast-list. Released in 1997, Quentin Tarantino’s Elmore Leonard adaptation Jackie Brown featured De Niro as small-time crook Louis Gara, and Keaton as ATF agent Ray Nicolette (the same character he played in another Leonard adaptation, Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight).

Keaton Joins De Niro In The Cast Of Netflix’s The Whisper Man

The Russo Brothers Are Producing

28 years after starring together in Jackie Brown, De Niro and Keaton will team for another crime thriller, as Keaton reportedly joins the cast of The Whisper Man. De Niro was previously reported to be headlining the Netflix thriller, produced by the Russos, with James Ashcroft directing from a script by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer. Adapted from a novel by Alex North, the movie follows a crime writer whose son goes missing, forcing him to enlist the aid of his estranged detective father, in an investigation that leads to a notorious serial killer who has been jailed for years.

The Whisper Man already boasted plenty of star power thanks to De Niro and other previously-revealed cast members, and now Keaton is joining the movie as well, in a role described as more-or-less of a cameo (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline). No specifics have been revealed about either De Niro or Keaton’s role in the film.

Our Take On Keaton Joining The Whisper Man

The Cast Was Already Stacked

Announced back in February with De Niro in the lead, The Whisper Man has since stacked its cast with more big acting talents. In addition to the just-reported Keaton, the film also stars Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague and Acston Luca Porto. The cast was previously reported to be ᴀssembling some time this spring to begin shooting.

Keaton’s Whisper Man role being basically a cameo might sound disappointing, as it means he won’t be sharing the screen with De Niro very much, if at all. The two had no scenes together in Jackie Brown, of course, as their storylines didn’t converge, and it’s possible their new movie won’t see them truly collaborating either. Keaton and De Niro appearing in the same scene might not be as momentous as when De Niro and Pacino finally faced off all those years ago in Heat, but it would nevertheless be a fun moment for moviegoers.

Netflix is following their usual habit of not unveiling much information about upcoming projects, keeping The Whisper Man shrouded in secrecy. De Niro is likely playing the retired detective at the heart of the story, while Keaton’s role is more difficult to guess, given that he is only dropping in for what is essentially a cameo appearance, meaning he could be playing just about anything.

The Whisper Man does not yet have a release date from Netflix.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline

Michael Keaton

Birthdate

September 5, 1951

Birthplace

Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, USA

Notable Projects

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Spider-Man: Homecoming

Professions

Actor, Producer, Director