Brendan Fraser will be making a comeback as a leading man for The Whale, which has already won an award popular among Oscar recipients.
Fans of 90s classics George Of The Jungle and The Mummy trilogy are in for a shock in The Whale. A drama film headed by Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, Brendan Fraser portrays a 600lb man named Charlie who attempts to reconnect his relationship with his teen daughter Ellie, played by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink.
It’s a far cry from Brendan’s memorable role as the muscular long-haired Tarzan-inspired character. Nevertheless, the actor is ready to rebuild his name as a Hollywood actor, and his latest movie has already caused some Oscars hype.
The Whale bags TIFF Tribute Award
Ahead of the film’s release at the Venice International Film Festival on September 4, the 53-year-old actor has been named the recipient of the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance. Brendan will be presented with the honor at the Toronto Film Festival gala fundraiser on September 11.
The award recognizes Fraser’s work on The Whale as a “reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity”. He becomes estranged from his daughter after abandoning her for his gay lover, who later died. Charlie turned to compulsive eating out of grief.
“Brendan Fraser gives a performance of staggering depth, power, and nuance in The Whale,” said TIFF CEO, Cameron Bailey.
The TIFF Award has gained Oscar momentum for Brendan as a lead actor contender. Previous TIFF winners and eventual Oscar recipients include Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Anthony Hopkins (The Father), and Joaquin Phoenix (Joker).
Brendan opens up on jaw-dropping transformation
The Whale’s prosthetics team is giving Dune’s team a run for their money with their extensive use of SFX makeup to bring 600lb Charlie to life. Epic sci-fi film Dune dressed Stellan Skarsgard in a fat suit to transform him into tyrannical villain Vladimir Harkonnen, who is thought to weigh upwards of 400 lbs.
Brendan told fans at GalaxyCon Raleigh last month: “The real task was to authentically create this character with all the tools we have with makeup, prosthetics, suit building, and a little bit of CGI to ensure that the shape of this man’s body obeys the laws of physics and gravity.”
“I can attest that this project was made by artisans in each and every category,” he continued.
The Encino Man actor teased the production last year, calling it “certainly far removed from anything I’ve ever done but not to be coy… I do know it’s going to make a lasting impression.”
If you or someone you know needs support, there are many eating disorder helplines in the UK here to help. Beat can be contacted at 0808 801 0677 while Mind’s contact number is 0300 123 3393.
If you are based in the USA, you can call NEDA on (800) 931-2237.
In other news, Brendan Fraser wins film award for his performance in the unrecognisable Whale role