Whalefall director says the whale is the good guy, not another Jaws

The whale is the hero in Whalefall.

Director Brian Duffield told The Hollywood Reporter at the film's Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday that the animal at the centre of the story is the good guy, unlike the shark in Jaws. He said he wants audiences to leave the cinema loving the whale, and loving whales in general. The Hollywood Reporter

The film is an underwater survival thriller based on Daniel Kraus's 2023 novel of the same name. Austin Abrams plays Jay Gardiner, a scuba diver searching for the remains of his father, played by Josh Brolin. During the dive, Gardiner is swallowed whole by a sperm whale while it is hunting squid, and must escape from inside its stomach before his air runs out.

The animal is described as an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale. Deadline Kraus joined Brolin, Abrams, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz and Duffield at the premiere. The production spent weeks shooting inside a recreated whale's stomach, and the film will play in 4DX, the format that adds moving seats, wind, water and other physical effects.

Abrams was cast before the success of Weapons. Duffield said Disney, the owner of 20th Century Studios, agreed to the casting after seeing his audition tapes. Abrams prepared by spending long periods with his scuba tank, including walks around his neighbourhood in full scuba gear.

What makes this stand out is the reversal. A man gets eaten alive, yet the audience is asked to root for the animal that ate him.

Whalefall opens in theatres on Friday, Oct. 16. Variety It is listed as PG-13 by 20th Century Studios. 20th Century Studios