Based on the internationally bestselling novel by Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin, The Night Listener is a dark tale about honesty, deception and the dangerous excesses of celebrity-obsessed fans. It explores the relationship between a well-known radio talk show host and a mysterious, sycophantic adolescent who may or may not have been a victim of child sexual abuse.

The film stars Robin Williams as gay radio personality Gabriel Noone, who although a popular pubic figure, privately suffers from depression over his breakup with his lover of 10 years, Jess (Bobby Cannavale).

Seeking solace, Gabriel becomes drawn into a series of eerie phone conversations with the almost-too-intelligent, 14-year-old Pete (Rory Culkin) and Pete's adopted mother (Toni Collette). At their urging, Gabriel even becomes a kind of long-distance father figure for the boy. When Gabriel begins to doubt the boy's lurid stories, he sets out on a surprise-filled journey to discover the truth about Pete and Donna's real identities.

Stettner, who grew up in New York City and completed his graduate studies at Columbia University, wrote and directed 2001's The Business of Strangers, starring Stockard Channing and Julia Stiles. It screened at numerous festivals, including Sundance and Toronto, and won several awards. He agreed to direct The Night Listener after only one reading of its initial draft. He recalls, “What attracted me to the story was that it was so suspenseful, but with great characters and so many unusual themes percolating beneath the surface.”

When he began casting the film, he sought “actors who best matched the characters we had written” more than those who resembled Maupin or Terry Anderson, Maupin's former partner. “More than anything, I felt you really have to believe Jess and Gabriel are a couple,” Stettner says. “The thing about Bobby [Cannavale] and Robin [Williams] is that they are both open souls. There's a lot of warmth there and there's something very real about their screen relationship.”

Both Williams and Cannavale have played gay roles before, although The Night Listener is very different from The Birdcage or Will & Grace. Stettner knew the two stars were up to the challenge of playing gay lovers in a serious and honest way. “Cannavale has played a lot of gay men before,” he says, “so I don't think it was an issue for him. Robin understood from the big get-go that this was not The Birdcage. This was different—very matter-of-fact—and we're all very proud of that.”

Actress Toni Collette adds with a smile, “There was no ‘Twyla Twyla Twyla.'”

“No, not at all,” Stettner agrees. “The actors were very serious about this film.” Then he laughs. “None of them made a lot of money on it, so there was this huge sense of commitment from day one. They all understood about how fundamental that [gay] relationship and breakup was, especially for Gabriel's character and the journey he takes.”

Collette adds, “Love is love—no matter who it's between.”

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