Brendan Fraser could be about to make his comeback. The star of The Mummy, who's been relatively quiet in recent years, has been cast in the new movie by Darren Aronofsky.
The latter is the acclaimed, controversial auteur behind the likes of Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan and the recent, nightmarish Mother! Aronofsky now returns with a project called The Whale, confirms Deadline, and it sounds like another complete emotional rollercoaster.
The movie is named after Samuel D. Hunter's 2012 play of the same name, and he's been tasked with adapting the screenplay. An online description of the stage production describes it in the following terms: "A six-hundred-pound recluse, hiding away from the world and slowly eating himself to death, is given one last chance at redemption."
One assumes that Fraser will be playing the central character. It will be heartening and entertaining to see the versatile performer back on our screens. Having charmed in kid-friendly fare such as George of the Jungle (1997) and The Mummy (1999), Fraser also demonstrated his dramatic range in the likes of Gods and Monsters (1998) and Crash (2004).
However, barring a recent role in Danny Boyle's TV miniseries Trust, Fraser hasn't been especially prominent. Aronofsky has, in the past, worked wonders with comeback performances – just think of Mickey Rourke's heartwrenching turn in The Wrestler (2008). That movie garlanded Rourke with an Oscar nomination – could Fraser be in line for his very first bit of Academy Award recognition?
“Adapting my play into a screenplay has been a real labor of love for me,” said Hunter. “This story is deeply personal and I’m very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of Darren’s ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I’m so grateful that he’s bringing his singular talent and vision to this film.”
The movie will be distributed by indie darlings A24, whose portfolio encompasses a hotbed of acclaimed, experimental dramas. They were behind the recent, relentless Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems (another movie showcasing a revelatory lead performance), as well as The Lighthouse, Midsommar and The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
No production start date has been set for The Whale, nor is there a proposed release date. Stay tuned to the blog and Twitter @Cineworld for more details.
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