Inside the Whale production details revealed at New York Comic Con

During a panel at New York Comic Con 2026, creators of the upcoming 20th Century Studios suspense film ‘Inside the Whale’ shared technical details regarding the production. The film follows a diver, played by Austin Abrams, who becomes trapped inside a sperm whale while searching for his father, portrayed by Josh Brolin.

To simulate the interior of the whale, the production team utilized a 360-degree rotating set. Writer Daniel Kraus revealed that a Barbie doll was used as a scale reference to help design the cramped environment. The set was operated via cables and pulleys to mimic the animal's internal movements. Additionally, director Brian Duffield used Josh Brolin’s recorded heartbeat as a sound effect within the set to mislead Abrams during filming, creating a more immersive experience for the actor.