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Throughout the history of Hollywood, actors and directors have seen their stars flame out. However, from time to time, a career can rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and when it does, it is a glorious thing to watch.
Just take 2014’s Best Actor Oscar winner and 2015’s Best Picture Oscar winner. The former was Matthew McConaughey, who had all but disappeared from public consciousness after being typecast as “suave southern guy in romcoms” while the latter was driven almost exclusively by the work of Michael Keaton, who was previously seen it what, 1998?
The list of legendary comebacks is long and illustrious. People who seem ubiquitous now may have been very obscure for decades on end. John Travolta, Drew Barrymore and Ellen Degeneres all come to mind.
Which is why it’s high time that a titan of tinseltown get ready for his much-anticipated second coming. That’s right, what the world needs right now is a Brendan Fraser comeback.
A Brendannaissance if you will.
I firmly believe that this is guaranteed to happen and that we will all be richer for it. Let’s take a look at the factors involved that make 2018 ripe to be the year of Brendan.
First of all, there is a clear public backlash to a Mummy movie that did not star Brendan Fraser. When a Tom Cruise version of the series was released, humanity reacted with a mixture of shock and horror, and it became one of the biggest film busts in recent history. Couple this with the fact that the main character of a Brendan Fraser Mummy spin-off series is now the most bankable man in Hollywood, I’m pretty sure we know who the kingmaker is and it’s not David Miscavige. Similarly, that Tarzan movie sucked and it’s 100 percent because we all wished we were watching George of the Jungle.
Now let’s look at precedent. One of the surefire ways to reintroduce yourself to society is to star in a premium cable TV show. Just take a look at Laura Dern; it’s almost like we forgot she was blacklisted for playing the gay character that Ellen came out to. We also have Matthew McConaughey as precedent, as his turn as Rust Cohle in True Detective coincided with his Oscar run in Dallas Buyers Club (though to be fair, the McConaussaince began with Magic Mike). But back to Brendan. He currently has a role on the acclaimed Showtime drama, The Affair, which Mrs. Icehouse watches as some form of psychological warfare. He steals every scene he’s in, and it’s obvious the producers know the nuclear fission they’re working with when he appears onscreen.
And finally, range. Brendan Fraser has displayed possibly the widest array of characters in film history. He’s played not just an anthropologist, but a character that an anthropologist would like to study (The Mummy and George of the Jungle). We have literally watched him learn English on screen (Encino Man), learn how to adjust to modern society (Blast From The Past) and then seen him put those skills to the test and become the voice of a generation (Airheads). He has also played six different characters in the same film (Bedazzled) as well as characters from multiple ethnic backgrounds.
It’s not that this is overdue. I think we’ve had the perfect amount of time as a population to forget just what a colossus Brendan is. He probably also needed some time to recharge his batteries after giving so much of himself to us in the 90s and 2000s. So this isn’t even a request for it to happen or a call to action. This is me just plainly stating facts that the comeback to end all comebacks, the Brendannaissance, will be coming to a theater near you..
Image via DFree / Shutterstock.com
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Icehouse
International sailing champion and friend to most wolves. Except Larry, he knows what he did.
@PJHart
@hart__attack
pjhart84
Bedazzled is criminally underrated.
Being introduced to Elizabeth Hurley in that slit dress, well, it was an experience.
Elizabeth Hurley is still, to this day, 10/10
12/10
12/10 is more accurate. She’s a must follow on the ‘Gram.
I wanted to be like her when I grew up
It’s like they say, Dr. Mgegete Mgegete Baba, a Pulitzer Prize and $3.50 will get you a cafe latte!
I liked Brendan Fraser in Scrubs.
Where do you think we are?
The episode and that moment were so well done. That show’s the goat, and Fraser was one of so many amazing recurring guests
George of the Jungle is the GOAT
I need this to happen more than I can possibly explain
“McConaussaince” fucked up my day, I’m still laughing
I had this exact thought a couple months ago… where is Brendan Frazier and when will he get back to movies?
Please don’t hate me for this, but I’m pretty sure the Tom cruise mummy movie was universal rebooting the classic monster universe (i.e. Dracula, Frankenstein and such. Google “universal mummy monster reboot”) and not a tacky BF mummy ripoff.
Still agree though. Brendan is a dusty gem ready to shine
You’re right, thought I made it clear in the paragraph, but sorry if I didn’t.
My apologies. I read too fast.
It’s all good bro.
Watch School Ties. Great movie. Huge “before they were famous” cast
Click on the work “multiple” in the last sentence of the second to last paragraph.
Would love to see this happen. Preach Icehouse!
I’d prefer a late 90’s/00’s style Adam Sandler comeback.
That stretch of Happy Madison productions will go down in history as one of the greatest all time