Starz Acquires Rebecca Hall Thriller The Listeners for U.S. Release

Movieweb reports that Starz has acquired the Rebecca Hall thriller series The Listeners for North American distribution, two years after its BBC One premiere in November 2024.

The four-episode psychological drama, directed by Janicza Bravo and adapted from Jordan Tannahill’s novel (Tannahill also worked on the series), was praised overseas for its methodical pacing and lead performances and holds a 92% RT score. The press release describes Claire (Hall), a popular English teacher who begins to hear a low humming no one else can hear, a disturbance that unsettles her life and strains relationships with her husband Paul (Prasanna Puwanarajah) and daughter Ashley (Mia Tharia).

Starz said the acquisition is intended to bolster the network’s commitment to expanding its slate for women and underrepresented audiences. Alison Hoffman, President of Starz Networks, said, "The Listeners pulls viewers in from the start with its unique mystery while provoking questions about how society treats and believes women’s experiences. We’re proud to bring this critically acclaimed project to the U.S. and expand our suite of premium programming for women with this riveting psychological thriller." The press release did not specify a U.S. release date, and it noted that if the series proves successful Starz may continue to add British dramas and films that have not yet found a U.S. home.