Overview
- 20th Century Studios released the first official trailer and poster on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and confirmed an exclusive theatrical opening on October 16, 2026.
- The trailer foregrounds a long, visceral sequence in which Austin Abrams’s character is swallowed by a sperm whale to build curiosity about the film’s central survival premise.
- Director Brian Duffield co-wrote the screenplay with author Daniel Kraus and says the production shot all major underwater scenes in a purpose-built tank at Radford Studio Center.
- Production relied on large practical effects — including a half animatronic whale head, a tongue puppet and a Weta-built squid — with Abrams performing most of his own stunts to keep scenes visceral.
- The CinemaCon screening and the trailer’s strong early reactions have shaped marketing that leans into the film’s claustrophobic emotional core and immersive theatrical formats, with final post-production work continuing ahead of the fall release.