A JOYOUS, FUN-FILLED FAMILY FILM WITH AN OCEAN FULL OF HEART
​THE STAN ORIGINAL FILM ​
​WHALE SHARK JACK, PREMIERES APRIL 2, ONLY ON STAN.

March 3, 2026 - Stan and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation today announced Whale Shark Jack, a heartwarming adventure about family, friendship, the natural world, and moving forward when all hope seems lost, premieres on April 2, only on Stan.

Set on and around the breathtaking Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia (specifically on Baiyungu Country), Whale Shark Jack stars Abbie Cornish (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Robocop) and Michael Dorman (Territory, Joe Pickett) as husband and wife marine biologists, Marcus and Nita and Alyla Browne (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Sonic the Hedgehog 3) as their daughter, Sarah.

Whale Shark Jack follows the family’s idyllic life on their research catamaran, Playground, where together they follow the migratory path of the biggest fish in the ocean - the majestic, gentle, and awe-inspiring whale sharks. Sarah, who has been raised on the sea, is fearless and embarks on all kinds of adventures with her only friend, Jack, an endangered whale shark she rescued as a pup, forming an unbreakable bond.

The tight-knit family wanders the ocean, conducting their research so they can make a difference in the world. But when Sarah and her mother suffer an unexpected tragedy, Nita moves them to the remote coastal town of Exmouth in north-western Australia, believing a new start on solid ground will help them both heal.

Despite being able to chart a course through the Pacific Ocean and hold her breath underwater for minutes at a time, Sarah has no idea how to navigate life on land and make new friends. The only person who understands her struggles is her great-aunt Dot (Rachel Ward). Sarah is desperate to return to her old life on Playground and be with Jack once again. She is certain that when his migration brings him back to Exmouth, they will go back out on their boat. But when Jack fails to return, and Nita refuses to acknowledge that Jack might be in danger, Sarah embarks on a risky mission to find him.

Whale Shark Jack also stars Ursula Yovich (Top End Wedding, The Twelve), Karen O’Leary (Wellington Paranormal), and Rachel Ward (On the Beach, The Thorn Birds), and features emerging talent Jayden Boundry, Luca Miller, Giselle Philogene, and Emmi Williams in their first feature film acting roles.

Whale Shark Jack was developed by a Western Australian creative team, including screenwriter and author Kathryn Lefroy (Library of Love) and sibling directors Miranda Edmonds (Library of Love, Tango Underpants) and Khrob Edmonds (Library of Love, Tango Underpants), in their feature directorial debut.

The Stan Original Film Whale Shark Jack is produced by Timothy White (The Luminaries, I Am Mother), Miranda Edmonds, and co-produced by Georgia White (The Furnace) and Estelle Buzzard (The Lifeguard). Executive Producers are Bernadette O’Mahony for ACTF, Cailah Scobie and Donna Chang for Stan, Kelvin Munro (We Bury the Dead, I Am Mother), and Malinda Wink for Minderoo Pictures. Co-Executive Producers are Deanne Weir, Olivia Humphrey, Khrob Edmonds, and Kathryn Lefroy.

The team developed the film on Baiyungu Country and worked closely with Associate Producer and Baiyungu Traditional Owner Hazel Walgar (Ningaloo Nyinggulu, Shark vs. Snake: Battle of the Bites), who assisted the team in understanding the deep cultural connection to this land and sea.

The Stan Original Film Whale Shark Jack is produced by Cottesloe Films and Southern Light Films, as part of the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) / Stan Family Film partnership. ​Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Stan. Financed with support from Screenwest, Lotterywest, and the Western Australian Government through the Western Australian Regional Screen Fund, and in association with Minderoo Pictures. International sales by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

The Stan Original Film Whale Shark Jack premieres April 2, only on Stan.