NYCC gave us a look at the upcoming movie Whalefall from 20th Century Studios and Imagine Entertainment.
Daniel Kraus, the author of Whalefall, talked about the research he did to make this story as faithful as possible to science.
He was unsure that the movie would be possible, given what he’d written. He and director Brian Duffield co-wrote the script after Duffield responded to Kraus’ tweets about the project.
The set for a majority of the movie was a rotating whale figure in a deep pool. Duffield made sure the design team understood his vision for the proportions by sending them a rolled-up yoga mat with a Barbie doll inside.
During Austin Abrams’ audition process, he worked to show his physical capabilities in tight spaces.
“I remember toward the end doing one in a tent or something like that, trying to recreate the stomach.”
Josh Brolin and Abrams discussed the father-son duo depicted in the movie. Brolin is delighted to be starring alongside Abrams in yet another movie. Brolin felt that the atmosphere on set, coupled with his and Abrams’ chemistry, made their interactions as authentic as possible.
Brolin mentioned the tense relationship that’s depicted in the movie. “The more that you attempt to get closer, the further away you’re getting.”
The panel concluded with a special look at the movie, with Abrams starring as the protagonist Jay, as he wakes up in the stomach of a whale.
Whalefall releases October 14th, 2026, and based on the preview is the perfect movie for any fans of survival thrillers.
