Those who grew up in the 90s can truly attest to the success of movies that starred Brendan Fraser. Titles like George of the Jungle, Bedazzled, Blast from the Past, and the first three The Mummy movies are just some of the actor's famous projects.
But for some time, the actor has been on a hiatus and shunned away from the limelight. In 2018, Fraser claimed in an interview with GQ that he was sexually assaulted by an ex-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) in 2003.
He was also rarely invited to the Golden Globes, which was hosted by the association. The allegation was denied by Philip Berk, which caused Fraser to go into a depression. He then decided to retreat from the public eye.
And now, we finally get to see the beloved actor's comeback in The Whale. Here's what we know about the movie right now.
The Whale Release Date
The Whale held an official premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 4th. At the end of the film's first screening, Brendan Fraser received a six-minute standing ovation from those who were able to watch the film. The actor also earned the TIFF Tribute Award from the festival for his performance in The Whale. All of these could be a very good sign for the film's success.
Unfortunately, we won't be able to watch the film right now. The Whale is slated for a wider release in select theaters on Friday, December 9, 2022.
The Whale Story: What Is It About?
The Whale is based on an off-Broadway play written by Samuel D. Hunter. The writer is also part of the writing process of the film adaptation, which means we could expect The Whale story to stay true to its format.
The story is about a morbidly obese English teacher named Charlie (played by Brendan Fraser). The teacher, weighing around 600 lbs., has limited range of movement. As a result, he virtually conducts his classes from his couch.
Apart from battling with obesity, Charlie is also depressed. The only thing stopping him from eating himself to death is a chance to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Ellie (played by Sadie Sink).
The teacher knows that he doesn't have much time left, but thankfully, he gets help from his daughter, his nurse and friend named Liz (played by Hong Chau), and a Mormon missionary. The trio help Charlie get a chance at finding happiness and meaning in his life.
The movie is directed by Darren Aronofsky, whose other projects include Pi, Requiem for a Dream, Mother!, and The Fountain.
The Whale Cast: Who's In It?
The movie stars Brendan Fraser in what could be his most challenging and ambitious role to date. But knowing the caliber of Fraser in his previous movies, there's no doubt he'll be able to pull this off.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Fraser said:
"If there's no risk, then why bother? I want to learn from the people I'm working with at this point in my career. I've had such variety, a lot of high highs and low lows, so what I'm keen for, in the second half of my time doing this, is to feel like I'm contributing to the craft and I'm learning from it."
Fraser wore a prosthetic weight suit for the physical transformation into his character. This was met with some criticism and people accusing the director of fatphobia for casting Fraser in the role. But Fraser worked with the Obesity Action Coalition. He also said that "I learned quickly that it takes an incredibly strong person inside that body to be that person. That seemed fitting and poetic and practical to me, all at once."
Fraser also said that wearing a body suit was not a "one-note joke" and "whether intended or not, the joke is, it defies gravity. This was not that."
The actor also said that this role is "a prime opportunity. I wanted to disappear into it. My hope was that I would become unrecognizable. I wanted to know what I was capable of."
The other actors joining Fraser in the movie are:
- Sadie Sink (as Ellie)
- Hong Chau (as Liz)
- Ty Simpkins (as Thomas)
- Samantha Morton (as Mary)
Where to Watch The Whale Trailer
Despite its official premiere at the Venice Film Festival, a trailer for The Whale has not yet been released. The only material that can be used to promote the film at this point is a still of Fraser's character sitting by himself.
We'll update this post once more information about The Whale becomes available.
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