Whalefall Squeezed Austin Abrams Inside a Rocking Whale Stomach

Austin Abrams spent much of Whalefall squeezed inside a whale's stomach while crew members jumped on the set to crush him.

The survival film stars Abrams as Jay, a young diver who is swallowed by a whale and trapped in its stomach with a limited supply of oxygen. He must find a way out before the tank runs out, according to Variety.

The film was directed by Brian Duffield and arrived in theatres via 20th Century Studios on 16 October 2026. That date comes from its official studio listing 20th Century Studios. It was produced by Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Studios 20th Century Studios on Facebook.

He had little room to move. The stomach was a small, essentially 360-degree set mounted on a rocking gimbal, a rig that tilts and rolls to throw actors off balance. Duffield told Variety the enclosed build let the camera stay inside with Abrams from every angle.

The air was real. Abrams performed inside the set with a genuine oxygen tank strapped on. For the chewing sequences, Duffield said big, burly men jumped on the set and crushed down on Abrams from outside.

The script was co-written by Duffield with novelist Daniel Kraus. It is based on Kraus's 2023 novel of the same name. Duffield had contacted Kraus on social media about the book before it was even published, according to Variety.

For fans, this means most of the action plays out in tight close-up. There is no cut away to a control room. There is just one diver, one whale and a clock set by his breathing.