Full Breakdown
“Whisper Sisters” Comedy Pilot Begins Production in Louisville
7/14/2026, 12:06:35 AM
Production Launch
Independent producers are filming the half-hour single-camera comedy pilot Whisper Sisters in Louisville, Kentucky, this summer. The episode will be completed and shopped to broadcasters and streaming platforms later in 2026. Created and written by Louisville native Corey Roederer, the pilot follows estranged sisters forced to revive their family’s illegal moonshine operation after their father’s funeral.
Historical Inspiration
The series draws on the real “Whisper Sisters,” women who operated Kentucky bootlegging operations during Prohibition but were omitted from mainstream histories. By setting the story in modern bourbon country, the show aims to spotlight that overlooked legacy while delivering comedic conflict between the sisters’ divergent lifestyles.
Key Cast & Crew
- Mae Whitman as Alexis Whisper, a Brooklyn-based elite who left Kentucky.
- Emily Meade as Erin Whisper, a hard-partying single mother who stayed home.
- Britne Oldford as Kayla, Alexis’s spouse; Emma Duchesneau as Reagan, Erin’s 17-year-old daughter; Sharon Murray as Memaw, the matriarch; Henry Thomas as Keith, a corrupt Bullitt County sheriff.
Casting is overseen by Mary Clay Boland, who also produces with Brian Loschiavo of Riverside Entertainment. Direction is by Ryan Cunningham.
Official Statements & Responses
Roederer emphasized the personal connection: “Growing up in Kentucky, you learn early that bourbon is a religion and that the women who built it never got their names on the bottle.” He added that filming in Louisville “brings the whole thing full circle.” Cunningham said the project is “about reclamation — women taking back an industry, a legacy, and a family,” underscoring the show’s thematic focus on female agency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This story started in my own backyard,” — Corey Roederer, Creator
- “ Added Cunningham, “What drew me in is that this is a show about reclamation — women taking back an industry, a legacy, and a family.” — Ryan Cunningham, Director
The pilot’s independent financing and completed episode will serve as the primary pitch tool as the producers seek a full-series order before the end of 2026.
