Exclusive: Whalefall interviews with Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams, author Daniel Kraus & director Brian Duffield
Hitting theaters on October 16, 2026 from 20th Century Studios is the survival thriller Whalefall, directed by Brian Duffield and starring Austin Abrams as the diver eaten by the whale, along with Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd.
The odds of being swallowed alive by a whale are not zero. Following the death of his father (Josh Brolin), Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) goes diving off the central Coast of California in search of his remains, but is swallowed by a massive sperm whale. While trapped inside its belly with only one hour of oxygen left, Jay comes to realize that the hard-earned lessons that his father imparted may be the key to his escape.
The screenplay is written by Brian Duffield & Daniel Kraus; adapted from the book of the same name written by Daniel Kraus, first published in 2023.
Produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Brian Duffield, Jeb Brody, and Allan Mandelbaum.
Abrams was featured in Zach Cregger’s mystery thriller Weapons, which also starred Josh Brolin. Abrams won fans and critical acclaim for his role as the beloved Ethan on HBO’s Euphoria. He also starred in Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s Do Revenge.
Duffield’s critically acclaimed film No One Will Save You starring Kaitlyn Dever was released on Hulu in September 2023 and earned him a Critics Choice nomination for Best Movie Made for Television and a WGA Award nomination in the TV & New Media Motion Picture category.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to Whalefall's Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams, co-writer/ author Daniel Kraus and director Brian Duffield