Disney's Survival Thriller 'Whalefall' Proves How Hard It Is to Replicate 'The Martian'

Whalefall, Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel about a scuba diver swallowed by a sperm whale, is often compared to Andy Weir’s 2011 book The Martian since both focus on men trapped alone in dire situations using all of their knowledge and skills to survive. Ridley Scott and Drew Goddard’s adaptation of Weir’s story of an astronaut methodically growing potatoes on Mars is a masterpiece, filled with optimism, humor, and thrills. That success feels even more remarkable in hindsight, as Brian Duffield’s Whalefall tries to replicate the formula but never makes the physical or emotional stakes feel real.