The Whale at the Center of ‘Whalefall’ is “the Good Guy,” Actually

Anyone who has seen the heart-pounding trailer of Whalefall, which follows a scuba diver being swallowed whole by a giant sperm whale, would probably not see said whale as the film’s hero. But director Brian Duffield has a different view.

“I think the big difference between us and Jaws is we really love the whale and he’s the good guy in this movie. I think it’s really important that you leave this movie loving our whale and loving whales in general,” the filmmaker told The Hollywood Reporter at the movie’s Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday. “Unlike Jaws, where I think you’re really scared of the shark, I think you leave this movie very fond of the whale. We’re passionately pro-whale over here. Anti-squid, but pro whale.”

The film, which is based on Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel of the same name, stars Austin Abrams as a diver who treks out into deep water while searching for the remains of his father (Josh Brolin). He ends up swallowed while the whale is hunting for a squid, and must fight for his life to escape the animal’s stomach before his diving tank runs out of air.

Abrams was cast in the film before the success of Weapons and before he reteamed with Zach Cregger for hit Resident Evil, as Duffield recalled how the actor was “so compelling and raw and realistic, it just was the thing where once he auditioned it was hard to not picture him in the role. Thankfully Disney, once they saw his audition tapes, agreed and just thought he was incredible. I never had to fight to cast him and I think shortly after we cast him, Zach cast him in Resident so I’m so happy for him. Although I think he deserves to do a musical or something a little bit more relaxing next.”

The team shot for weeks inside a recreated whale’s stomach, and for those looking to get a more immersive experience themselves, the movie is screening in 4DX, with Duffield warning, “I hope they don’t get too seasick.”

Abrams — who as part of his prep walked around his neighborhood in his scuba gear, teasing it was “just to get the time in with it, I knew we were going to be spending a lot of time together, me and the scuba tank” — also suggests a 4DX strategy that he didn’t get on set: “Bring a poncho.”