Brendan Fraser gets standing ovation for "The Whale"

Writer: Heidi Hsia

Brendan Fraser was a household name back in the 90s –to 2000s

6 Sep – The reception to Brendan Fraser's new movie, "The Whale" is now sparking talks that the actor could be running for the upcoming Oscars' Best Actor race.

As reported on Variety, the film received a six-minute standing ovation (or seven minutes, according to other sources) at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival - a response so surprising to Fraser that the actor couldn't help but cry during the event.

The actor plays an obese man in Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale"

Based on the play by Samuel D. Hunter, the movie was adapted by the writer and directed by Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan", "Mother!")

Asked if the reception to his performance marks his comeback, Fraser, who was a household name back in the late 90s and early 2000s with movies like "George of the Jungle" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth", stated that he was "just trying to stay in the today."

Fraser will be seen next in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon".

The actor first became worldwide famous for "George of the Jungle"

Both he and Dwayne Johnson star in 2001's "The Mummy Returns"