Creating a film set within the confines of a whale's interior is a daunting task, but theater owners received a glimpse of what's to come at CinemaCon, where 20th Century premiered the first trailer for "Whalefall," a cinematic adaptation of Daniel Klaus' novel by filmmaker Brian Duffield.
"Whalefall" stars Austin Abrams in the lead role, portraying a scuba diver who is tragically swallowed alive by a sperm whale and embarks on a perilous journey to escape, all while grappling with his complex relationship with his late father. The trailer depicts Abrams on a diving expedition when he unexpectedly encounters a menacing squid, which is swiftly followed by the ominous presence of a massive whale.
As he's pinned against the rocky terrain with no escape route, the trailer employs eerie music to heighten the tension. When Abrams tries to swim away and hide among the seaweed, the whale relentlessly circles in the darkness, increasing the sense of impending doom.
The whale eventually launches its attack, and Abrams clings to its teeth for dear life, kicking against its tongue as he screams in terror. Bubbles escape from his mask as he descends into the depths of the whale's body, and the trailer abruptly cuts to black.
Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, and John Ortiz also star in "Whalefall," which hails from Imagine Entertainment and is produced by the company's Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Allan Mandelbaum. The film is based on the 2023 novel of the same name by Kraus, who co-wrote the script with director Duffield.
"Whalefall" will premiere in theaters on October 16th. After gaining recognition for his role in "Euphoria," Abrams broke out in Zach Cregger's "Weapons," and was front and center at CinemaCon earlier this week when Sony unveiled the trailer for Cregger's "Resident Evil" movie, which also stars Abrams.
