Darren Aronofsky Teams With Brendan Fraser & A24 For Redemptive Father/Daughter Dramedy 'The Whale'

Wondering what filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is up to? We’ve been thinking the same. Well, he’s got a new project called “The Whale,” being set up at A24 and starring Brendan Fraser. “The Whale” is based on the critically- acclaimed 2012 play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter and tells the story of a 600lbs recluse and father trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, who is something of a wild and sharped-tongue hellion. Fraser is being eyed to play the father, and the teenager has yet to be cast.

Hunter will write the screenplay as well. “This story is deeply personal, and I’m very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of Darren’s ever since I saw ‘Requiem for a Dream‘ when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I’m so grateful that he’s bringing his singular talent and vision to this film,” he said in a statement.

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Aronofsky has not made a movie since 2017’s “Mother!” starring Jennifer Lawrence (though he recently produced the documentary “Some Kind of Heaven” [2020], through his Protozoa film company). While Fraser was something of a ’90s heartthrob —roles like the “Mummy” trilogy, “Encino Man” (1992), “George of the Jungle” (1997), “Bedazzled” (2000), “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” (2003) and “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (2008)— he disappeared from Hollywood after his stardom waned in the aughts (GQ would even write a “What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?” article about his absence).

The actor recently mounted a strong dramatic comeback in recent years with critically-acclaimed turns on Showtime‘s “The Affair” (2016–2017), Danny Boyle‘s FX anthology series “Trust” (2018), and the DC Universe action series “Doom Patrol“ (2019–).

Here’s a synopsis of “The Whale” below and a video with the playwright Samuel D. Hunter explaining where the project came from.

On the outskirts of Mormon Country, Idaho, a six hundred pound recluse hides away in his apartment, eating himself to death. Desperate to reconnect with his long-estranged daughter, he reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen. Big-hearted and fiercely funny, THE WHALE tells the story of a man’s last chance at redemption, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places. [Deadline]

Here’s the trailer for the Aronofsky-produced “Some Kind Of Heaven.”