You might need to do a double take—because Josh Brolin is rocking a whole new look.
The 57-year-old actor has been spotted shirtless, inked from chest to back in some seriously bold (but fake) tattoos on the set of his upcoming thriller Whalefall, and fans can barely recognize him.
The transformation happened Monday in San Pedro, California, where Brolin was filming scenes for the highly anticipated adaptation of Daniel Kraus’s survival novel.
Brolin’s Bold New Look on Set
Wearing only a pair of dark jeans and a sun-faded purple baseball cap, Brolin showed off his faux body art that covered his chest, arms, and back—just over a year after removing one of his real tattoos.
The transformation is all part of his portrayal of Mitt Gardiner, a rugged diver whose son is on a mission to recover his remains.
What Whalefall Is All About
The story follows Jay, a teenage scuba diver who sets out to find the remains of his deceased father, Mitt (played by Brolin).
But the story takes a wild turn when Jay is swallowed alive by a massive 80-foot sperm whale—a creature weighing over 60 tons.
With oxygen running out and no way out, Jay has to find a reason to keep fighting to survive.
Back in March, Deadline reported that Brolin was in talks to join the film alongside Austin Abrams, who plays Jay.
The movie has been described as “The Martian meets 127 Hours,” promising a gripping blend of isolation, survival, and psychological tension.
First Look at Josh as “Mitt” Goes Viral
Fans got an early peek at Brolin in character thanks to author Daniel Kraus, who shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes photo in his newsletter.
The image later made its way to social media via horror fan account @BloodyDisgusting—and the response was wild.
In the shot, Brolin wore a ribbed green beanie, sported a goatee, and looked totally immersed in the grizzled role of Mitt.
He looked every bit like a man who’s lived through the roughest seas.
A Passion Project for Author Daniel Kraus
Kraus, who also co-wrote the screenplay with director Brian Duffield, admitted in his newsletter that he didn’t expect Whalefall—a novel that mostly takes place inside a whale—to be the one that finally got greenlit for a film.
“Nearly all of my books have been optioned,” Kraus wrote, “but very few get shot.
I wouldn’t have bet on this one getting made—let alone attracting this much talent.”
A Cast That’s Ready to Dive In
Alongside Brolin and Abrams, the cast includes Elisabeth Shue, Jane Levy, John Ortiz, and Emily Rudd, according to ComingSoon.net.
Kraus had special praise for Abrams, calling him “super-super-super serious about this role” and “a genuinely good dude.”
Brolin’s Tattoo Removal Came Before the Fake Ink
Interestingly, Brolin’s character might be covered in tattoos now—but in real life, the actor was busy removing one just last year.
In May 2024, Brolin posted a video on Instagram showing himself undergoing laser tattoo removal on the upper right side of his back.
The post featured a pic of him standing in front of a van labeled Removery Tattoo Removal & Fading, wearing casual gear and flashing the “hang loose” sign.
In the next slide, he shared a quick clip of the actual removal process in progress, tagging his friend @tobymorse and thanking the Removery team for helping get “this bulls**t off my back.”
A Role That’s Set to Make Waves
With Whalefall officially in production and Josh Brolin going all in for his role, fans of both the novel and survival thrillers have a lot to look forward to.
Between the emotional story, the intense action, and Brolin’s grizzled new persona, this movie is shaping up to be a wild, unforgettable dive into the deep.