Whalefall is now available in theaters, showcasing a production that prioritizes practical effects. Ramsey Avery designed a 30-foot whale head equipped with a functional tongue and mounted on an animatronic arm.
Avery stated, "It’s an intense experience, and that’s what we were going for." The production team pushed to keep as much of the whale's presence practically in-camera as possible.
To create the interior, the team used multiple layers of colored, translucent silicone. The exterior of the whale was coated with glue over heavy-duty canvas.
Avery noted, "This made the stomach look alive." The crew utilized four different stomachs across various rigs, using methyl cellulose mixed with additives to mimic an oatmeal texture.
Brian Duffield co-wrote the script with novelist Daniel Kraus, whom Duffield contacted on social media before the book's publication. Duffield has a history of writing and directing projects including The Divergent Series: Insurgent, Jane Got a Gun, The Babysitter, and Underwater.
He also directed Spontaneous in 2020 and No One Will Save You in 2023. The plot follows the character Jay as he attempts to find the body of his estranged father, Mitt.
Josh Brolin portrays Mitt Gardiner, and his physical appearance inspired the look of the sperm whale. The whale features facial scarring that mirrors the character played by Brolin.
Brolin remarked, "Going to the theaters on Sundays when I was in my early 20s and my late teens, and the lights would go down — it was just a heart-opening experience that I never wanted to let go." The actor added, "You don’t know if you’re going to be part of the zeitgeist or not."
The third installment of the Dune franchise is scheduled for release on 18 December 2026.
