Brendan Fraser Portrays 600-Lb Man In Career Comeback Role

Aug 01, 2022 by apost team

At one point during his career, actor Brendan Fraser was on top of the world, starring in movie after movie. Some of his most notable roles included portraying Rick O’Connell in “The Mummy” film series, as well as leading roles in “George of the Jungle” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” After taking a hiatus from acting in films, Fraser moved to television and was met with a new wave of fans and success. “The Affair” and “Texas Rising” were some of his most popular television roles. Fraser also worked on the action series “Doom Patrol.”

The actor has continued to make a name for himself once again in the entertainment industry by landing a handful of new roles. However, many fans were left to wonder what was the reason why Fraser seemed to almost disappear from the spotlight altogether despite being such a well-loved and respected star. 

Over the years, the actor has given some insight into the troubles he has faced along the way to rising to stardom, and the physical, mental and emotional toll the industry has left on him. Fortunately, he has continued to overcome the past and grow from the hardships he faced and is making his way back to being one of the more prominent names in Hollywood once again. With many films in production, there’s no doubt we’ll keep seeing Fraser on the big screen.

Fraser has been on an epic comeback, undergoing more transformations in recent years and proving that it’s never too late to live out your wildest dreams.

During the late 1990s and 2000s, Fraser was a highly sought-after and respected actor. He had leading roles in “George of the Jungle” in 1997 and “The Mummy” in 1999 and was loved and adored by fans and professionals in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, Fraser’s career and activity in the public eye trailed off for a bit in the 2010s.

Speaking with GQ in February 2018, Fraser opened up about some of the hardships he faced over the years, such as the physical toll his acting roles put on his body. According to The Straits Times, the actor spoke out about how the extreme and physically demanding roles he used to play during the late 1990s and early 2000s really took a toll on his body, especially since he did his own stunts. 

Fraser spent seven years in and out of hospitals for various operations, including a partial knee replacement, vocal cord repair work and a lumbar laminectomy – a back procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. “By the time I did the third ‘Mummy’ picture in China, I was put together with tape and ice – I was building an exoskeleton for myself daily,” Fraser told GQ.

However, Fraser now seems to be transforming himself once again. He has been long loved and respected in the industry and has started taking on new acting roles with a different look. In October 2021, Unilad reported that Fraser took on an “almost unrecognizable role” for the 2021 film “No Sudden Move.” The period crime thriller starred Fraser alongside other notable stars like Don Cheadle, David Harbour and Jon Hamm. Fraser recalled how the cast had to social distance during production to meet safety standards at the time but that it brought them all “closer together.”

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While the role may have been a change to Fraser’s standard repertoire, the actor underwent even more changes for other roles. The Straits Times reported that Fraser had purposely gained weight for “The Whale,” an upcoming movie in which he plays a morbidly obese recluse. According to CNN, the actor plays a man that weighs 600 pounds. Filming for “The Whale” wrapped up in April 2021 and is set to be released in September 2022. 

The film will tell the story of a “reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption,” according to Unilad.

A24 shared images from “The Whale” on Twitter along with news it was premiering at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in late August and early September. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, “The Whale” will star Fraser alongside Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton and Ty Simpkins. It is based on the Samuel D. Hunter play of the same name.

Speaking with Unilad, Fraser said:

“It’s gonna be like something you haven’t seen before. That’s really all I can tell you.”

He also encouraged everyone to “check it out” once it is released.

While Fraser has been extremely busy reclaiming his fame, it's safe to say that many fans think that his time away from the big screen was definitely worth the wait. According to Closer Weekly, fans call this revival of Fraser's career the "Brenaissance." He has several other upcoming projects soon to be released or in the post-production stage, such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Batgirl.”

What do you think about Brendan Fraser’s transformation? Are you a fan of his work? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends.