‘Whalefall’ Sends Austin Abrams Into the Belly of a Whale This October

One hour of oxygen, a dead father and the inside of a sperm whale make for an unusually unforgiving survival scenario in Whalefall, the new thriller from 20th Century Studios and Imagine Entertainment. The first trailer and poster have now arrived ahead of the film’s exclusive cinema release on 16 October.

Directed by Brian Duffield, Whalefall adapts Daniel Kraus’ acclaimed 2023 novel of the same name. Austin Abrams stars as Jay Gardiner, a young diver who heads into the waters off California’s Central Coast following the death of his father, hoping to recover his remains.

The search takes a catastrophic turn when Jay is swallowed alive by a massive sperm whale. Trapped inside the animal and left with only an hour of oxygen, he is forced to improvise a way out while confronting memories of his difficult relationship with his father, played by Josh Brolin.

Duffield co-wrote the screenplay with Kraus and also serves as a producer. The cast includes Elisabeth Shue as Jay’s mother Zara, alongside John Ortiz, Jane Levy and Emily Rudd.

The film marks another genre project for Duffield following No One Will Save You and Spontaneous, but the filmmaker has described Whalefall as both a physical survival story and a more emotional piece built around grief, memory and the lessons Jay carries with him into the crisis.

“To bring Daniel Kraus’ book to life, our cast and crew spent a summer inside a whale inside a sound stage in Studio City, California,” Duffield said. “I can’t wait for audiences to see the performances and hard work everyone put in to tell this thrilling and emotional story in a dark, cozy theater this October.”

Production began in Los Angeles in June 2025, with additional location work taking place around the Monterey Peninsula. Aaron Morton, who previously worked with Duffield on No One Will Save You and Spontaneous, serves as cinematographer, while Joseph Trapanese composed the score.

Imagine Entertainment secured rights to Kraus’ novel shortly before its publication in 2023, with 20th Century Studios later winning a bidding contest for distribution and bringing Duffield aboard to direct.

Whalefall opens exclusively in cinemas on 16 October 2026.

Whalefall trailer