Brendan Fraser has been a beloved actor for many years, gracing our screens with his memorable performances. But in recent years, Fraser has seemingly disappeared from the big screen and left many wondering what happened.
‘Brenaissance’ has been trending on Twitter and TikTok ever since his resurgence. Let’s take a look at the rise, fall and comeback of Brendan Fraser.
Brendan Fraser’s filmography
Brendan Fraser’s career began in the early 90s with films like Dogfight and Encino Man.
- He rose to prominence in the ’90s and early 2000s by starring in successful films like George of the Jungle, Bedazzled and Gods and Monsters.
- His iconic role as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns is still the highest point of his career.
- The following decade, however, saw Fraser’s career hit a low point. The 3D adaptation of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) was his last prominent outing.
His disappearance from Hollywood
An examination of Brendan Fraser’s career reveals how he became a victim of circumstance, losing out on major roles and being caught in a downward spiral.
- Technically, he never left but his star status as an A-lister started to fade away. He stepped out of the spotlight owing to a variety of personal issues including multiple surgeries and the death of his mother.
- Fraser’s role in The Mummy films demanded a lot of own stunts which worsened his physical condition. He divorced the mother of his children in 2007.
- In 2018, Fraser made the news when he alleged that the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had sexually assaulted him in 2003.
The beginning of his comeback
Despite getting roles in films and TV shows in his ‘disappearance’ phase, Fraser was completely off the radar until the late 2010s.
- His first significant comeback move was when Steven Soderbergh cast him as gangster Doug Jones in the 2021 film No Sudden Move.
- He was cast in the DC Batgirl film as the villain Firefly. However, the movie was shelved.
Lead role in The Whale
Fraser’s true renaissance or the ‘Brenaissance’ as the internet calls it happened this year. He landed the lead role in The Whale, directed by artistic powerhouse Darren Aronofsky.
- Aronofsky is known for directing masterpieces such as Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan.
- Fraser’s role as a morbidly obese English teacher has won him critical acclaim.
- The Whale premiered at the Venice International Film Festival where Brendan Fraser received a six-minute standing ovation for his performance. This moved him to tears.
The standing ovation for #TheWhale was so enthusiastic, Brendan Fraser tried to leave the theater but the crowd’s applause made him stay. #Venezia79 pic.twitter.com/ZZ0vbFX7Rl
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) September 4, 2022
A Lookback and the Present
Brendan Fraser had been a staple in Hollywood since the early 1990s, with a successful career that seemed to be ever-growing.
- His story is one of a spectacular rise and a devastating fall, from being one of the most in-demand actors to being all but forgotten. His comeback is truly inspiring.
- His next role is in veteran director Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film, Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Brendan Fraser has been cast in Martin Scorsese’s ‘KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON’.
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/O9J4079lAC
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 3, 2021
In understanding the Brendan Fraser story, we can learn about the pitfalls of fame and the power of Hollywood to make or break a career. Are you excited to watch his performance in The Whale?
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You can also share any questions you have about Brendan Fraser. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
