Blair Underwood and former Super Bowl champion turned actor Vernon Davis are set to lead The Listeners, a new psychological thriller from director Joslyn Rose that blends music, memory, and mental health into a deeply introspective narrative.
The film centers on David (Davis), a once-celebrated jazz musician who suddenly loses the ability to hear music—an absence that threatens not only his career, but his identity. As doctors portrayed by Underwood and Simone Leanora struggle to diagnose whether his condition is neurological or psychological, David is pushed toward institutionalization. Instead, an unconventional form of therapy forces him inward, unlocking memories rooted in faith, discipline, and unresolved trauma.
Rather than leaning into traditional thriller tropes, The Listeners moves through quiet tension—where silence itself becomes a character. The ensemble cast includes Bechir Sylvain, Taylor Talley, and Cindy Herron.
Written by Rose alongside Dominique Mouton, the film reflects a creative vision shaped by Rose’s personal relationship to music and spirituality. Her approach draws inspiration from classic psychological storytelling, where inner perception carries as much weight as external reality.
Behind the scenes, the project is backed by a producing team led by Mouton under her Dido Belle Productions banner, Davis through Reel 85 Productions, alongside Underwood, Rose, Anwulika Oputa, and Emmy-winning producer Gary Reeves, who has also served as a social impact and spiritual advisor to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
For Davis, the film carries personal weight. Having partnered with Rose on multiple projects over the past decade, The Listeners allows him to channel lived experience into performance. Mental health, he has shared, has deeply affected his family—losses that shape the emotional core of his portrayal and the film’s broader message about silence, stigma, and healing.
Underwood brings decades of range and gravitas to the project. From his breakout role on L.A. Law to acclaimed performances in Set It Off, When They See Us, and on Broadway, his presence anchors the film’s psychological depth.
Rose, best known for directing the Emmy-nominated Showtime documentary Stand, continues her exploration of inner truth and resistance—this time through fiction, sound, and silence.
Filming on The Listeners is set to begin next month.