Sven. Born Racers. Michael Johnson: Super Man
Whisper, the multi-genre production company behind Ben Stokes, Phoenix from the Ashes (Prime Video) and The British Airways Killer (ITV) is producing three new sport/human interest documentaries that are premiering this Summer. These add to Whisper’s growing and ambitious documentary slate, with more big-name announcements coming later this year.
The first three documentaries on Whisper’s 2024/25 slate are Sven (co-produced with Up&Away Film Entertainment), Born Racers and Michael Johnson: Super Man.
Sven is an Amazon Original commission, exploring the extraordinary life of Sven-Goran Eriksson, first foreign manager of the England National Team, and is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in the UK, Ireland and in the Nordics on Friday 23 August.
Sven is the stranger-than-fiction story about football’s most unpredictable character, following the rise (and tabloid emblazoned fall) of the former England manager, intertwined with the heart-breaking and moving reality of Sven’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Featuring characters from throughout his life including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Roberto Mancini, Kasper Schmeichel, Nancy Dell'Olio and Faria Alam.
Sven is produced by Whisper and Up&Away Film Entertainment, directed by Claudia Corbisiero, produced by Chris Grubb and Drew Masters and executive produced by James Quinn for Up&Away and Sunil Patel and Mark Cole for Whisper. Fifth Season is managing the international distribution.
Born Racers is a six-part documentary series following young hopefuls of MotoGP™, as they try to prove their worth in Grand Prix racing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup feeder series.
The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup has established itself as the benchmark route to access the prestigious MotoGP™ Championships. Emerging young riders have the chance of their lifetime, but it comes with enormous pressure.
From hardships and motivations, the series highlights the young drivers at the start of the competition. Born Racers captures the real-life trials that racing hopefuls must go through, including family sacrifices, pressure, doubts, friendships and rivalries.
Born Racers launched in the UK and US on Thursday 18 July, and is available on Discovery+ in the UK and HBO Max in the US. The series is being released in eight other European territories (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia) and is already available on Canal+ in France, Austria and Switzerland.
Born Racers is produced by Whisper and is directed by Chris Wallwork.
Michael Johnson: Super Man chronicles the career of one of the greatest athletes in history.
This is the story of a sporting superhero, but it is also a story about a vulnerable human being facing his own mortality.
Michael Johnson believed that an Olympian knows their own body best. A finely tuned, perfectly prepared athletic superman, he smashed the opposition, obliterated world records and in winning both the 200m and the 400m did what no human has ever done. It was a superhuman feat.
Now Michael Johnson is a stroke survivor, the body he thought he knew so well had a terrifying surprise in store for him. This is a film about one of the greatest athletes of all time, following his biggest battles on track and now his largest off track, as he faces his own mortality for the very first time.
Michael Johnson: Super Man is directed by Chris Grubb. It’s available now on PARAMOUNT+ in Canada, with more exciting international distribution announcements to follow soon. The international distribution is being managed by Fifth Season.
More global projects are set to be announced by Whisper in the coming months, in partnership with major sports federations, a-list talent and global streaming platforms.
Chris Grubb, Creative Director, Whisper: “These documentaries uncover the demands and pressures of competing in elite sport – yet the interest in these stories extends well beyond the sport they pursue.
“The films interweave life changing, emotional moments with stories of triumph over adversity. They explore wide-ranging cultural and societal themes that many viewers can relate to and empathise with.
“The documentaries are part of an expanding portfolio of fascinating films that place human stories at the heart of our storytelling.”
Sunil Patel, CEO and Co-Founder, Whisper: “A great trust developed between us and each film’s protagonists over many months of production, that enabled us to tell their complex and sensitive stories.
“It’s great to see these projects, which have been so many months in planning and production, finally being delivered and enjoyed on platforms across the world.”
