Darren Aronofsky & Brendan Fraser Team-Up for "The Whale"

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In a lot of ways, this is redemption for two men. In 2017, director Darren Aronofsky made mother!. A film that felt so hashed together that it was hard to believe it was made by the same meticulous composer of such films as Black Swan and The Wrestler. And then you have Brendan Fraser, everyone's favorite regular guy who had fallen into recluse from injuries that broke down his body along with his own allegations that he got blacklisted years ago for rejecting someone's advances on him (Yes, it happens to men in that town too!). And not only does The Whale sound like a fascinating film, but it sounds like something that can push both artists to a strong creative area neither has been to before.

The film is being adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his own 2012 stage play of the same name. The synopsis for the original play is as follows:

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.

With this announcement, Hunter himself released the following statement:

“Adapting my play into a screenplay has been a real labor of love for me. 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.”

The film is set up over at A24. No production start or release date has been announced. Stay tuned!