Austin Abrams-starrer Whalefall is heading to theatres on October 16, 2026. Ahead of its release, Abrams has shared his experience of seeing sperm whales in person, describing it as “almost like being with an alien” and calling the experience “very surreal.”
Before principal photography began, Abrams visited a sperm whale sanctuary near the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. There, he was able to scuba dive and observe sperm whales in their natural habitat. He was accompanied by Patrick Dykstra, an acclaimed whale documentarian whose documentary Patrick and the Whale explores the lives of these animals.
Speaking about the experience, Abrams said, “I was surprised at how much time I actually got to spend with them. They hadn’t seen any sperm whales in the previous nine days, so I was lucky that both days I was there, they showed up and let me observe them. It was almost like being with an alien…very surreal.”
Dykstra also recalled the encounter, saying, “The sperm whales really took to him right off the bat.” He added, “One day, three females approached him, and just kind of lay in the water with him. Austin was able to float quietly while the whales bobbed in front of him. You could see this incredible exchange of energy. Austin loved it, the crew loved it, and everybody had a great time. I think it had a profound impact on him and helped him unlock part of his character.”
Director Brian Duffield also spoke about Abrams’ preparation for the film. He revealed that the actor earned an advanced scuba diving certification as soon as he was cast. “So, he was fully committed to the character from the get-go,” he added.
The upcoming survival thriller is based on Daniel Kraus’s 2023 novel of the same name. Alongside Abrams, the film also stars Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy and Emily Rudd. Duffield also co-wrote the screenplay with Kraus.
You can find the official synopsis of the movie below:
“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 his father imparted may be the key to his escape.”
Got any news tips, or want to discuss a possible story? Email us at [email protected] (to reach out with confidential tips, click here). For the latest on gaming, entertainment, pop culture, anime/manga, follow IGN India on Instagram, X, Facebook, and WhatsApp. For the latest videos, subscribe to us on YouTube.
