Blair Underwood stars in The Listeners, premiering May 16 at TCL Chinese Theatre

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Blair Underwood Leads Compelling Cast in New Psychological Drama
• A Jazz Musician’s Descent into Hearing Loss Drives the Plot
• Production Details and Festival Recognition
• Blair Underwood’s Diverse 2026 Portfolio Showcases Range
• What Makes The Listeners a Must-Watch Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre?
  • Watch the Trailer
  • Sources

Blair Underwood is set to premiere his new psychological thriller this month at one of Hollywood’s most iconic venues. The Listeners arrives May 16 at the TCL Chinese Theatre with early festival acclaim. Here’s what you need to know about this haunting new drama.

Blair Underwood Leads Compelling Cast in New Psychological Drama

Emmy and Grammy winner Blair Underwood headlines The Listeners as a doctor investigating a mysterious medical case. The ensemble features former Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis in a powerful lead role as David, a jazz musician mysteriously losing his ability to hear music. Supporting cast members include En Vogue’s Cindy Herron, Bechir Sylvain from Jurassic World, Taylor Talley, and Simone Leanora.

Director Joslyn Rose, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for her sports documentary Stand, brings her distinct vision to this genre-bending narrative. The film explores healing through music while blending psychological thriller elements with Twilight Zone-like storytelling that elevates every scene.

A Jazz Musician’s Descent into Hearing Loss Drives the Plot

The Listeners follows David as he experiences an unconventional medical mystery after losing his hearing for music. Underwood and Leanora play physicians searching for diagnoses while debating whether his condition stems from neurology or psychology. The film asks deeper questions about trauma, memory, and perception throughout David’s unraveling journey.

Dominique Mouton, co-writer of The Lower Bottoms, collaborated with Rose on the screenplay. The narrative ultimately questions whether true healing requires scientific proof or simply the willingness to listen inward, creating layers of meaning beneath the surface tension.

Production Details and Festival Recognition

Detail	Information
Director	Joslyn Rose (Emmy-nominated filmmaker)
Original Music	Jon Batiste (Academy Award, Grammy Award winner) and No I.D. (Grammy-nominated producer)
Festival Awards	Best Actor (Underwood), Best Director (Rose)
Running Time	Short film

The film will screen at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre during the Independent Filmmakers Showcase LA Film Festival. Following the premiere, The Listeners receives a subsequent Los Angeles presentation at the Culver Theatre on June 4 as part of the 17th Annual New Media Film Festival.

“The Listeners explores music as a healing modality, at the intersection of a psychological thriller and a Twilight Zone-like reality, blending grounded performances with elevated, genre-driven storytelling.”

Portfolio description of the film from Awards Radar

Blair Underwood’s Diverse 2026 Portfolio Showcases Range

Blair Underwood has been extraordinarily active this year with major releases spanning multiple genres. Earlier in 2026, he appeared in the theatrical remake Youngblood, starred in the film Longlegs, and joined Fox’s medical drama Doc as a series regular in season 3. His career continues to flourish with meaningful independent and mainstream projects.

The Listeners represents Underwood’s commitment to challenging, character-driven cinema. His selection as Best Actor at the festival demonstrates the impact of his grounded, nuanced performance as the physician searching for answers amid medical uncertainty and emotional complexity.

What Makes The Listeners a Must-Watch Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre?

This film arrives with significant creative pedigree. Grammy-winning composer Jon Batiste‘s original score elevates the psychological elements, while Joslyn Rose‘s direction delivers elevated genre storytelling grounded in authentic character work. The TCL Chinese Theatre serves as a fitting venue for a debut that merges indie sensibility with major-league production values.

The May 16 premiere offers Los Angeles film enthusiasts an opportunity to experience emerging cinema at its finest. With early recognition from festival judges and a cast delivering powerhouse performances, The Listeners signals a new direction in storytelling that respects both psychological depth and visceral emotional impact. Will you be there to hear what the film has to say?

Sources

• Awards Radar – Full press release and festival details for The Listeners premiere
• Deadline – Original casting announcement for Blair Underwood and Vernon Davis
• Screen Rant – Trailer release and film description