Brendan Fraser Comeback Splashes Onto Netflix
There have been few iconic comebacks in recent years on par with Brendan Fraser. Once known as the star of The Mummy and George of the Jungle, the actor would end up fading from the public eye, only appearing in a handful of titles throughout the 2000s. But that all changed in 2022 when the actor teamed up with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. Soon, audiences can stream Fraser’s comeback film, The Whale, when it arrives on Netflix on November 1.
A Different Type Of Role
Popping into productions like the John Travolta and Morgan Freeman-led The Poison Rose and Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move, it wasn’t like Brendan Fraser was living a completely reclusive life prior to signing on for Aronofsky’s drama. However, in The Whale, as Netflix subscribers will see, the actor underwent an immense transformation that took audiences by surprise – especially compared to his shredded appearance in movies like The Mummy and Bedazzled. For his role as an online English teacher named Charlie, Fraser underwent massive prosthetic work that turned him into a 600-pound man.
Brendan Fraser’s role in the Requiem for a Dream helmer’s 2022 production, which was based on Samuel D. Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name, saw him as not just a lonely teacher but also a father hoping to make amends with his daughter. In The Whale, which will land on Netflix in November alongside a slew of other critically celebrated choices, Charlie realizes that he’s made perhaps the biggest mistake of his life after tossing his relationship with his daughter to the wayside nearly a decade earlier.
Starring opposite Fraser as his on-screen daughter is Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink with an ensemble that includes Samantha Morton (The Serpent Queen), Hong Chau (The Instigators), and Ty Simpkins (the Insidious franchise).
Fans Are Happy For The Return Of Brendan Fraser
To say that folks were excited to see Brendan Fraser return to the big screen would be an understatement. Soft-spoken, humble, and grateful for every ounce of praise that the new movie was bringing in, Fraser remained nothing but appreciative for being hard launched back into the conversation. Bringing in viewers by the droves, The Whale earned an impressive $57.6 million at the global box office against its $3 million production budget, with its arrival on Netflix only promising to further drive up its viewership numbers.
A Hit With Critics
Sitting on Rotten Tomatoes with a 64 percent critics’ score against its 91 percent audience score, it’s clear that the Brendan Fraser-led The Whale will perform well on Netflix due to its favoritism amongst fans. Still, the movie made quite the splash on the award circuit, with Fraser solidifying his big return to the business through the Academy Award win for Best Actor. The makeup and hairstyling team also nabbed the Oscar for their work, while Hong Chau landed a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
His earlier career roles, like those in George of the Jungle, The Mummy franchise, Bedazzled, and Journey to the Center of the Earth, were quick to lean into Brendan Fraser’s good looks and muscle-bound appearance. But through his resurgence in The Whale, the actor was able to prove to the world, and soon Netflix subscribers, that he’s truly a force to be reckoned with. Watch Brendan Fraser in his comeback performance when The Whale arrives on Netflix on November 1.
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