From Rolling Stone · Brenna Ehrlich · · 1m 20s
Austin Abrams' Whalefall Breakthrough
Austin Abrams stars in Whalefall and Resident Evil, becoming a breakout star with minimal screen time.
In brief
Austin Abrams stars in Whalefall and Resident Evil, becoming a breakout star with minimal screen time. Austin Abrams gained fame as Jay Gardiner in Whalefall and Bryan Hodukavich in Resident Evil after minimal acting experience. Originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Austin Abrams' Whalefall Role
Austin Abrams plays Jay Gardiner, a scuba diver swallowed by a sperm whale in Whalefall.
“This probably sounds silly, but making a whole movie about these kinds of whales, it felt just strange not to have an interaction with one”
Resident Evil Breakthrough
Abrams starred as Bryan Hodukavich in Resident Evil, a medical courier fighting zombies.
“It’s great to be in the theater and hear someone in the audience say something that my character says one second later”
Whalefall's Unique Challenge
Filming inside a whale required 40 days of practical sets and minimal dialogue to convey terror.
“You talk about those things, and, then, ultimately, it’s so much less interesting”
Jay Gardiner's Emotional Journey
Jay struggles with his father's death and seeks closure through scuba diving and whale encounters.
“Jay so badly wants his father’s approval, but also it’s almost as if he seems incapable of doing what he needs to do to achieve that”
Director's Praise
Director Brian Duffield called Abrams 'extraordinary out of the gate' with 'heartbreaking and emotional' performances.
“Austin came in and auditioned and was just extraordinary out of the gate, really heartbreaking and emotional”
Abrams' Acting Philosophy
Abrams prefers minimal dialogue and uses his face to convey character emotions during intense scenes.
“When you’re spending so much time alone, there is so much comfort in just finding a friend”
Whalefall's Production Details
The film used practical sets inside a whale for 40 days, including fights with giant squids.
“He has an amazing ability to make everything feel specifically and uniquely tailored to him”
Abrams' Background
Abrams started acting in community theater and has been acting since childhood.
“Movies were always something I was really fascinated with from a super young age”
Whalefall's Impact
Whalefall has earned Abrams a major role in Resident Evil and a growing fanbase.
“It’s great to be in the theater and hear someone in the audience say something that my character says one second later”
The big picture
Austin Abrams gained fame as Jay Gardiner in Whalefall and Bryan Hodukavich in Resident Evil after minimal acting experience.
