Brendan Fraser talks Hollywood comeback, Oscars buzz, and physical transformation for The Whale
Darren Aronofsky’s new movie The Whale tells the story of a housebound man suffering from severe obesity. Based on the play written by Samuel D. Hunter (who also pens the screenplay), the film charts his battle to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter while struggling with his rapidly deteriorating health.
The cast and crew were at the Venice Film Festival to promote the film, revealing some titbits about the process of making it, as well as the early Oscars buzz surrounding it. Brendan Fraser, who plays Charlie in the movie, was particularly in the spotlight as The Whale marks a major return to screens for the former action star.
"I'm just trying to stay in today," he told reporters about grappling with all the awards commotion around his Hollywood comeback. "So, I guess all I have to deal with is your good selves for the moment. Thank you for the warm reception. I'm looking forward to how this film makes a deep impression on everyone, as much as it has on me."
Aronofsky opened up about the process of casting the movie, admitting that he considered "all different types of actors, every single movie star on the planet" for the role of Charlie. Then, after coming across Fraser in the trailer for a "low-budget Brazilian movie" it just clicked for him. However, the Black Swan director did admit it took a bit longer to convince everyone else.
"We put together a reading and Sadie [Sink, who plays Charlie's daughter] was at that reading too, because she's my favorite new actor," he said. "And we did this reading and in a small theater on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan. It just got chills from the moment that these two were interacting. It just was like, 'Yes, this makes sense'. And I looked over during the reading at Sam
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