Brendan Fraser Was the Missing Piece in “The Whale”, Say Director Darren Aronofsky

brander Fraser with Darren Aronofsky

The Whale director Darren Aronofsky describes how lead actor Brendan Fraser was granted the role that marks his phenomenal return. Fraser’s career began by portraying clumsy heroes in eccentric comedies such as Encino Man, George of the Jungle, and Dudley Do-Right. Fraser’s career took off once he got hired as Rick O’Connell in 1999’s The Mummy, which spawned a trilogy.

In addition to his fan-favorite role in the fantasy action-adventure series, he went on to feature in highbrow dramas such as The Quiet American   Crash. Despite demonstrating his versatility as an actor across different genres, Fraser mainly withdrew from prominent parts for over a decade owing to a series of personal and professional setbacks.

In recent years, Fraser has worked in supporting roles in films and on television, most recently as Cliff Steele in the DC Comics series Doom Patrol (which debuted in 2019) and Doug Jones in the Steven Soderbergh film No Sudden Move (2021).

Now, he’s back in the spotlight as the leading man in Darren Aronofsky’s film The Whale, in which he plays Charlie, a 600-pound English teacher who’s trying to bond with his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink) after abandoning her and her mother.

Fraser plays a role in the movie, and although the movie has been the subject of certain debates over fatphobia, Fraser’s performance in the movie has been met with acclaim. He considers his leading role in ‘The Whale’ to be the biggest challenge of his career, which brought him huge appreciation and received standing ovations at the most recent editions of the Venice, Toronto, and New York Film Festivals.

In a tweet, Dwayne Johnson expresses his joy at Fraser’s return and thanks him for the support he offered The Rock to get his first ever role in Hollywood:

Aronofsky outlines his process of casting Fraser in the major role. The director says that it took him ten years to adapt the original source material (the same-named play by Samuel D. Hunter) and choose the actors. The director was discouraged by the search until he saw a trailer for one of Fraser’s films – a “low-budget Brazilian movie,” perhaps alluding to 2006’s Journey to the End of the Night – and determined that Fraser was the film’s missing piece. See what Aronofsky had to say about his star casting below:

“As soon as he left my office after our first meeting, I felt it. I knew he could play someone who most people would start off by dismissing, but within five minutes they’d start to feel something for him. Then, within 20 minutes, they’re starting to fall in love with the character because there’s just something about Brendan. Pretty soon, he starts to break your heart.”

Fraser in whale

Fraser has been the topic of Oscar buzz ever since the Whale debuted, reason being the warmth and empathy he brings to the role. Since this is Fraser’s first main part in a feature picture in almost a decade, and he has many more films scheduled for release following The Whale, many have hailed it as a successful return to Hollywood.

Fraser will co-star with Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese and scheduled for release in 2023. He will co-star with Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage in Brothers, directed by Max Barbakow and scheduled for release in 2022. Fraser was also slated to play the villain in the canceled DC film Batgirl.

Since The Whale made its debut, Fraser has been lavished with praise and love throughout social media, and it’s likely that this reception will only grow until the movie is released in theaters in December.

Here’s the moment when Brendan Fraser broke down in tears during a five-minute standing ovation at a London screening of The Whale

As a result of the buzz that Fraser’s performance in The Whale has produced, in which critics have praised his gut-wrenching, empathic, and nuanced portrayal, it seems possible that he may receive some nods when awards season rolls around. The receipt of such an honor would provide a significant boost to his resurrected career, making it possible for him to play more prominent parts in the future and laying the groundwork for a genuine return performance by Fraser.

What are your thoughts about Fraser’s comeback in The Whale? Do you think this could set milestones for him in his future releases? Let us know all of your views about it in the comments!

Jane Davies

Jane Davies

Meet Jane Davies, your friendly guide to all the cool stuff on Paramount Plus. She's got the inside scoop on the best shows, movies, and sports. Watching with Jane means getting the best picks, like having a friend who knows all about what to watch next. She loves hiking, snapping beautiful photos, and trying out new foods. Her adventures off-screen are just as fun as the ones on it. So, if you're looking for what to watch or just want to hear about cool experiences, Jane's got you covered. Let's dive into the fun world of streaming together!


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