Brendan Fraser’s Career Has Stalled Since His Oscar Win

Brendan Fraser‘s Oscar victory was thrilling, as if the actor from “The Whale” had at last given fans the triumphant comeback they had been anticipating for so long. In Darren Aronofsky’s film “The Whale,” released in 2022, Fraser delivered a powerful portrayal of Charlie, an obese English teacher struggling with isolation. His heart-wrenching performance served as a poignant character study, revealing the life of a damaged man and offering a glimpse into his solitary existence.

Although some believed that Fraser’s 2023 Academy Award victory might mark a resurgence to the leading roles he once had in movies such as the Mummy series, the fact is that he has not been very active in more contemporary projects. Even though he has given some supporting roles, it appears that Fraser has been hesitant to fully capitalize on the recognition he received following his Oscar win.

Brendan Fraser Made A Long-Awaited Comeback To Mainstream Success With The Whale

The Whale Was Fraser’s First Major Leading Role In Years

In the 1990s, Brendan Fraser was one of the biggest stars to shine brightly. His fall from stardom came as quite a surprise following his breakthrough role in “Encino Man” in 1992 and a string of successful movies afterwards. Roles in “The Mummy,” “George of the Jungle,” and the Oscar-winning film “Crash” cemented Fraser’s status as a leading man.

It seems that Fraser’s difficulties started during his peak fame, as he revealed in a GQ interview later on. In this interview, he claimed that he was sexually assaulted by the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, in 2003. According to Fraser, he declined Berk’s advances, but believes this rejection might have hurt his rising career in Hollywood.

Due to a mix of stress, illnesses, and a divorce, Fraser faced mental health challenges that led him to temporarily step away from acting. Consequently, the roles he started receiving were significantly less high-profile compared to the blockbuster films in Hollywood he was accustomed to.

During these challenging times, Fraser took on intriguing roles, but it wasn’t until he secured the starring position in The Whale that he reclaimed widespread popularity. This era was affectionately referred to as “The Brennaissance” by enthusiastic fans who were eager for his comeback. Although he won an Oscar and continued to take on interesting projects afterward, Fraser hasn’t been a consistent face on our screens since The Whale.

What Brendan Fraser Has Done Since The Whale

Fraser’s Yet To Deliver A True Follow-Up Role To The Whale

As a movie buff, I was absolutely thrilled when Brendan Fraser snatched an Academy Award, outshining stellar performances like Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin” and Austin Butler’s portrayal in “Elvis”. The award was undeniably well-deserved. However, seeing him join Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” was exhilarating, yet it wasn’t until his triumphant comeback as a leading man that I truly felt satisfied.

In other opportunities, he played a minor role in the crime comedy “Brothers” alongside Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage, or narrated the nature documentary “Sea Lions of the Galapagos,” but none compared to the exceptional performance that earned him the Best Actor title. Sadly, the most significant film Fraser made post-Oscar never saw the light of day in cinemas.

One Of Brendan Fraser’s Biggest Projects Was Never Released

Batgirl Was Shelved By Warner. Bros.

A promising project that could have capitalized on Fraser’s Oscar victory was “Batgirl,” a film from the DC Extended Universe, which was unfortunately canceled by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022. Fraser portrayed the antagonist Firefly in “Batgirl” and starred alongside notable actors such as J.K. Simmons (as Commissioner Gordon) and the return of Michael Keaton in his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman.

In an unexpected decision aimed at reducing expenses, the studio chose to scrap Batgirl, which had already progressed into post-production. This announcement left Fraser taken aback, and in a piece published by Variety, he called it a “hard blow,” but emphasized that learning it was done to write off debt made it particularly painful.

Brendan Fraser’s Upcoming War Movie Could Be His Best Role Since The Whale

This Is A Chance For Fraser To Show Off His Post-Oscar Range

Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his acting career, Brendan Fraser’s fortunes may be about to change significantly. This is due to the fact that he will portray President Dwight D. Eisenhower in an upcoming war-themed play adaptation titled “Pressure,” which is being produced in the United Kingdom.

In the movie “Pressure,” which is adapted from David Haig’s play, we delve into the critical days leading up to the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. The film follows a meteorologist named Andrew Scott, who holds a crucial position as he prepares to provide the weather report that will determine whether D-Day can proceed. With his significant role, Fraser gets a chance to demonstrate his acting versatility during his time post-Oscar win.

It’s been truly exciting to watch Fraser’s career unfold over the last few decades, and it was long-awaited yet moving when he received recognition for his role in “The Whale.” However, one can’t help but feel that he still has immense potential to shine as a leading actor in mainstream films if he finds the right projects.

Despite a potential new project on the horizon, as well as persistent enthusiasm for a fourth “Mummy” film featuring him, there’s speculation that Brendan Fraser’s career resurgence, often referred to as “The Brennaissance,” may not be over just yet. It’s been just three years since his Oscar win for “The Whale,” so there’s still time for him to reclaim the success he enjoyed in his prime.

2025-07-05 16:59