‘Variety’: ‘Whalefall’ director used Josh Brolin’s heartbeat for the whale

Josh Brolin stars as Mitt Gardiner in Brian Duffield’s adaptation of Daniel Kraus’s novel Whalefall, a 20th Century Studios release due October 16, 2026. Austin Abrams plays Jay, the son trapped inside a sperm whale.

According to Variety, Duffield recorded Brolin’s heartbeat and used it for the whale’s own pulse. The director also incorporated Brolin’s facial scarring into the whale’s appearance.

Duffield told Variety the goal was to “make it feel as personal as possible,” even if the details remain invisible to audiences.