Aug 20, 2026 3:23pm IST

‘Whalefall’ Trailer: Austin Abrams Gets Swallowed by a Giant Sperm Whale in Brian Duffield’s Survival Thriller

Srijani Roy Chowdhury

The makers have unveiled the first trailer for “Whalefall,” giving audiences a closer glimpse at the intense survival drama led by Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin. Adapted from Daniel Kraus’ acclaimed novel, the film follows a young man whose desperate fight to stay alive takes a terrifying turn when he is swallowed by a giant sperm whale.

After his father’s (Josh Brolin) death, Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) ventures into the waters off California’s Central Coast to recover his remains, only to be swallowed by a colossal sperm whale. Trapped inside the creature and with his oxygen supply rapidly running out, Jay must draw on the lessons his father taught him if he hopes to survive and find a way out.

Opening up about the story and the challenges of filming, director, co-writer and producer Brian Duffield says, “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. 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.”

The screenplay is by Brian Duffield and Daniel Kraus, based on Kraus’ novel of the same name. Alongside Abrams and Brolin, the film also stars Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy and Emily Rudd. It is produced by Brian Grazer, Brian Duffield, Jeb Brody and Allan Mandelbaum, with Doug Merrifield, Richard Abate and Will Rowbotham serving as executive producers.

Produced by 20th Century Studios and Imagine Entertainment, “Whalefall” arrives in Indian theaters on October 16, 2026.

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