Brendan Fraser is a name that has been mostly absent from Hollywood films for some time. A veritable darling of the ’90s and early 2000s, Brendan Fraser turned in unforgettable and undeniably likable performances in a slew of films, including George of the Jungle, Bedazzled, Encino Man, and Blast from the Past. Fraser seemed to effortlessly infuse the majority of his characters with a relaxed confidence that made for great comedy while never crossing the threshold into arrogant aloofness.

Tragically, a string of personal issues, along with allegedly being sexually harassed by former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president, Philip Berk, led Fraser to the brink of calling it quits on acting altogether. Now, it seems both fans and critics alike are ready for a Brendan Fraser renaissance. Could that include a return to The Mummy franchise?

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The Mummy Is Still a Beloved Franchise

     Universal Pictures

Fraser’s return to the Hollywood spotlight helped pave the way to a recent interview in which the heartthrob of the ’90s expressed tentative interest in returning to one of his most iconic roles – Rick O’Connell from the hugely successful The Mummy franchise. Fraser spoke to Variety while promoting Darren Aronofsky’s soon-to-be-released film The Whale, and the conversation turned toward the success of the film trilogy.

This is what Brendan had to say on resurrecting the fan-favorite property:

That certainly doesn’t sound like a no! Fraser continued by commenting on the failed attempt at developing a new iteration of The Mummy that saw Tom Cruise in the leading role:

“I don’t know how it would work, but I’d be open to it if someone came up with the right conceit.”

Fraser’s brief comments have found wide agreement across the internet. Cruise’s iteration of The Mummy was indisputably a much more sober and dark take than the earlier Fraser-centric offerings. Fraser’s The Mummy contained its fair share of frightful elements and gruesome sequences. Few can forget the film’s scarab beetles which had the horrific tendency to burrow under human flesh. Yikes.

“It is hard to make that movie. The ingredient that we had going for our Mummy, which I didn’t see in [the Tom Cruise] film, was fun. That was what was lacking in that incarnation. It was too much of a straight-ahead horror movie. The Mummy should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary.”

Still, The Mummy franchise was filled with a strong sense of humor that resounded in the quirky interactions between the characters, with Fraser’s Rick O’Connell at the center of most of the comedy. His irreverent and fearless reactions to the return of the homicidal Prince Imhotep helped to balance the film with a mixture of both fright and fun.

The Whale Is Poised to Make a Giant Splash

     A24

While Fraser never fully stopped turning in performances and voice acting on a number of projects, the media buzz began to pick up when he signed on to star in DC’s television series Doom Patrol. Fraser’s performance as Cliff Steele/Robotman reached a larger audience than much of his work in the 2010s and people once again began to pay attention to his singular talents.

Starring in the leading role of Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film The Whale has seemingly taken the burning embers of ‘Fraser Fever’ and turned them into a bonfire. For nearly a decade, fans have advocated for Fraser’s unique talents and much-needed return to the spotlight. His highly anticipated role in The Whale seems to have proven them right all along. Though The Whale isn’t due to hit cinemas until December, early reviews suggest that Fraser is poised to turn in a masterful performance.

Fraser plays Charlie, a 600-pound, reclusive English teacher on a quest to repair his troubled relationship with his daughter. The film’s promotion presents The Whale as a visceral and raw look at the unfortunate struggle with obesity that four in ten Americans find themselves in. As one might expect from Fraser, his heart is devotedly set on giving an empathetic and honest portrayal of this debilitating condition that is usually relegated to a movie’s punchline. Films like Shallow Hal, Eddie Murphy’s The Nutty Professor, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop provide a general picture of how Hollywood tends to treat overweight characters. Fraser has committed himself to using the film as an important vehicle for change and a recognition of the innate humanity found in everybody, not just the physically fit.

If The Whale fairs well upon wide release this December, Fraser’s resurgence to popularity may not only come with a return to overt stardom but with the resounding affirmation of an Oscar nomination for best actor. Here’s Fraser talking with Variety once again:

“I give really good podium. I’m great at handing out awards. It’s easy. The pressure is off. You’re up on the stage, staring out at all these people biting their fingernails as you say nice things, and then you present a trophy. But now, the tables have turned!”