«The Whale» is an American drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky from a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter based on his 2012 play of the same name.
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- The Whale is a 2022 American drama film.
- It was directed by Darren Aronofsky from a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter.
- It was based on Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name.
- The film stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton.
- It tells the story of a 600 lb (270 kg) man who tries to reconnect with his seventeen-year-old daughter.
- The Whale had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022.
- It is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 9, 2022, by A24.
- The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for Fraser’s, Sink’s, and Chau’s performances, while the use of a prosthetic suit and certain directorial choices received criticism.
- Darren Aronofsky said he had been trying to get the film made for a decade, blocked by the casting of Charlie (its lead character), until he saw a trailer for Journey to the End of the Night on YouTube which starred Fraser, when it “clicked” for him to cast Fraser.
- On January 11, 2021, it was announced that A24 had global distribution rights to The Whale, which would be directed by Aronofsky and star Fraser.
- In February 2021, Hong Chau, Sadie Sink and Samantha Morton joined the cast.
- The following month, Ty Simpkins joined the cast.
- Sathya Sridharan also joined the cast.[10]
- Principal photography began on March 8 and wrapped on April 7, 2021, in Newburgh, New York.
- The film entered post-production the same month.
- For the titular role, Fraser would spend four hours each day in the makeup department getting fitted with prosthetics that weighed up to 300 pounds.
- He also worked with a dance instructor for months prior to filming to figure out how his character would move with the excess weight and consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition.
- The Whale had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022, where it received a six-minute standing ovation.
- It made its North American premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022.
- The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 9, 2022.
- Its first trailer was released on November 8, 2022.
- Following its debut screening at the Venice Film Festival, both the movie and lead actor, Brendan Fraser, were given a six-minute standing ovation.
- A moment, caught on camera, that brought Fraser to tears. Long time fans and critics alike have called The Whale a revival of Fraser’s career after many years of absence from the screen.
- Because of his character’s severe weight, Brendon Fraser had to don a heavy prosthetic suit for the role that he wore for hours. He told members of the media in attendance at the Venice International Film Festival (via Variety), “I developed muscles I did not know I had. I even felt a sense of vertigo at the end of the day when all the appliances were removed; it was like stepping off the dock onto a boat in Venice. That [sense of] undulating. It gave me appreciation for those whose bodies are similar. You need to be an incredibly strong person, mentally and physically, to inhabit that physical being.”
- At the 2022 Venice Film Festival, Darren Aronofsky said that it took him ten years to cast this film. Casting Charlie was a huge challenge until he saw a trailer for the Brazilian film Journey to the End of the Night starring Brendan Fraser, where it “clicked” for the director who would later cast Fraser as lead.
- The film’s writer Samuel D. Hunter, served as a typing double for Brendan Fraser.
- It’s Darren Aronofsky’s first digitally shot film.
- Filmed with Sony Venice cameras which were first designed and used in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
- Darren Aronofsky’s second feature in five years, since mother! (2017).
- The Whale received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Fraser’s lead performance, as well as Chau and Sink’s supporting portrayals, while the use of a prosthetic suit and certain directorial choices received criticism.
