Brendan Fraser and Sadie Sink star in first trailer for The Whale

Virgin Radio

8 Nov 2022, 15:14

A24 have released the first trailer for the highly-anticipated Brendan Fraser drama, The Whale. 

Based on a 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter, The Whale stars Brendan as a Charlie, a clinically obese man confined to a wheelchair attempting to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink) after leaving his family to pursue a relationship with another man.

The film has already premiered all over the world at some of the most prestigious film festivals, including Berlin, Venice and London, but the production house, A24, have waited to give all fans a look at the emotional story. 

The trailer sets the tone for what fans can expect, starting with the eery soundtrack welcoming viewers into Charlie’s lonely home. 

We also get our very first look at Brendan, who completely transformed himself into playing the obese character with the help of body prosthetics.

The trailer shows short glimpses of a beach flashback with Charlie’s young daughter, before cutting back to the present day in his dark apartment. 

An emotional Charlie says: “Do you ever get the feeling people are incapable of not caring? People are amazing.”

The Whale is due to land in cinemas in the UK on 9th December, but is expected to arrive much later in the UK. 

Brendan’s transformation into Charlie is pretty impressive, and the actor spoke to virginradio.co.uk about what it was like to become the character during the London Film Festival. 

He exclusively told us: “I felt excited to go to work every day. Transformational makeup is... I can't think of any actor who doesn’t aspire to be lucky enough to be able to wear one.

“This one was designed with the laws of physics and gravity all to be obeyed. Like, this is a makeup that hadn't been done in cinema that I could see before. I felt like we accomplished telling a story that I'm hopeful can change some hearts and minds about how we feel about those who live with obesity.”

The Whale is coming soon to UK cinemas.