Brendan Fraser is still a heartthrob. And the massive emotional response he is receiving for his performance as the morbidly obese Charlie in The Whale proves how powerfully people are behind him. Ever since the actor received that emotional standing ovation at Venice Film Festival, Fraser has become the famous star everyone wished him to be. Fans are pouring in their love and awe at his comeback and what he has in store for the future. He is being honored at award ceremonies, starting with the TIFF Tribute Award, and his interviews are a gem to watch.

However, Darren Aronofsky never saw this wave of Brenaissance coming in praise for his casting of Fraser in The Whale. Talking to GamesRadar, Aronofsky revealed that he wasn’t aware of the vast fanbase riding behind Fraser before casting him for the adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s acclaimed play. Talking about the response to Fraser’s powerful performance, Aronofsky said,

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Throughout most of the past decade, Fraser dealt with a series of personal troubles which kept him out of mainstream cinema. However, he made a slight comeback with Doom Patrol as Cliff Steele and in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move. He was then cast in a supporting role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, leading to comprehensive media coverage. But his performance in The Whale has exponentially raised his rapport and amplified his fans’ love for him. And Aronofsky, who has helmed dramas like Black Swan, The Wrestler, and Mother!, was probably not prepared for the comeback story of the decade.

“I had no clue. I really had no clue. Of course, I knew he had done a lot of work, but I didn’t know that there was this whole fan base that was insane, and it’s been incredibly rewarding because it’s like extra credit that was not at all planned.”

In another interview, Fraser revealed how Aronofsky asked him not to stand up during the Venice Film Festival’s ovation unless the director asked him to. And later on, Fraser took center stage at Aronofsky’s sign, marking a moment of a lifetime for both the actor and his fans. Now, both Aronofsky and Fraser are celebrating the success of their film, which has not only received applause during the festival run but is also leading the limited-release box-office run.

Fraser’s Brightening Future and His First Oscar Nod

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Brendan Fraser recently won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor for his role in The Whale, offering an emotional acceptance speech to the audience. In addition, he has gone on to receive his first Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor category. Brendan Fraser is now in the run for the Oscars, and his comeback story makes him a potential choice for the win this year. He competes with Austin Butler, Colin Farrell, Bill Nighy, and Paul Mescal.

The Whale has fascinatingly moved the audience, with tears and sobs filling the theater after the film’s conclusion. And that kind of acclaim does put him in the front of the race.

Besides that, Fraser awaits the release of both Killers of the Flower Moon and Brothers, marking his official return to the business. Sharing the screen with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in the former, it will be interesting to see him in a high-profile role now that he has proven his mantle.