This Steven Spielberg-Produced Horror Series Was Canceled Too Soon

Steven Spielberg is one of the most prolific creators in Hollywood history, having brought us timeless classics like "Jaws," "E.T.," and the Indiana Jones saga. His TV projects have been somewhat hit-or-miss though; Spielberg's best TV series include "Animaniacs" and "Band of Brothers," but others barely lasted as long as Chrissy, the first swimmer we meet in "Jaws." One such short-lived TV show was "The Whispers," which aired for just 13 episodes in 2015. Spielberg executive produced the series via his Amblin TV enterprise, sharing the credit with four of his partners.

The supernatural drama starred "This is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia and Lily Rabe as Sean and Claire Bennigan, an Air Force pilot and FBI agent who are married and have a son, Henry (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf). Henry is one of many children on the show who are "befriended" by an alien named Drill who draws them into a game wherein they set deadly traps for unsuspecting adults. Other notable performers include Alan Ruck as FBI executive director Alex Myers and Dee Wallace as Claire's mother WIllie Starling. 

Ruck is best known for playing Cameron Frye in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and Connor Roy on "Succession," and Wallace boasts a horror-heavy filmography that includes "Cujo," "The Howling," and a 1982 collaboration with Spielberg on "E.T."  Ratings for "The Whispers" declined steadily after a strong start, and ABC canceled it mid-season. The network also allowed multiple cast options to expire, and would have needed to negotiate new contracts for many of the show's major performers. 

Production costs for "The Whispers" also remained high despite Amblin moving production from Los Angeles to Vancouver, and the lone season ended on a cliffhanger where Claire and thousands of children are abducted by the aliens. According to Deadline, the "creative plan for Season 2 included expanding the scope of the implications caused by the events in the first season, which would call for some tweaks and cast turnover." Spielberg's interest in telling alien stories borders on obsession, and it apparently stems from a strong personal belief that there is, in fact, intelligent life on other planets. 

The "Close Encounters" and "Disclosure Day" director said as much during a panel discussion at South by Southwest earlier this year. Deadline quotes Spielberg as saying "I've always believed, even as a kid, that we weren't alone. That just goes without saying. The big question is, are we alone now? And have we been alone over the last 80 years? And really, have we been alone over the last 3,000 years?"

You can stream Season 1 of "The Whispers" via the Google Play store, and viewers in some locations may also be able to buy Season 1 on Amazon Prime.