Brendan Fraser’s The Whale is being called the ‘performance of the year’ following the film’s premiere

The Whale has now officially aired at the London Film Festival, setting tongues wagging all over again about Brendan Fraser's performance ahead of Oscar season.

The film, which was shown to London critics on October 11, has been labelled the 'performance of the year' and 'a force of nature' by the British press.

So consider the 'The Brenaissance' officially on. Don’t expect the swashbuckling hero of old: Brendan Fraser is back like you’ve never seen him before, in a film that chronicles the life of a 270kg man named Charlie who is slowly eating himself into an early grave.

Critics took to social media after the screening to heap praise on Fraser in his first foray into a Hollywood feature film in years.

One social media user said after seeing The Whale: "Holy f**k Brendan Fraser! Best performance of the year - it’s a bandwagon but there’s a reason why it’s a bandwagon - The Whale skilfully avoids falling into traps it could have easily fallen into with care even if it’s not a subtle film. Also: Sadie Sink [was] excellent."

Another critic added: "If Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink don’t get Oscar-nominations for The Whale then I’ll be mad. Their performances are as fantastic as they are devastating. Highly recommend checking out this film as soon as you can."

A third continued the film's praise-fest: "The Whale is a force of nature, [Darren] Aronofsky at his most intimate and intricate, following the slow self destruction and self-imposed exile of a damaged soul, but still bearing that soul in all its empathetic beauty. Fraser is stunningly vulnerable, Hong Chau is shattering."

Fraser's upcoming film The Whale has already been met with critical acclaim and two standing ovations at the Venice and Toronto film festivals.

The Whale will be released later this year, and many are tipping Fraser to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Then again, with Black Swan director Darren Aronfsky at the helm of the film we're not exactly surprised its earning ticks across the board.

The film follows the life of a reclusive university professor who must face his demons and the regrets he holds over his physique. Fraser’s character is an obese gay man who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Sadie Sink of Stranger Things. 

Speaking to Deadline, Fraser revealed he signed on to The Whale before there was even a script.

"I heard Darren was going to be directing a movie,” he said as per Deadline.

"He told me it was about a man with a burden of regret, and he’s been harming himself by overeating. And he wants to reconnect with his daughter and let her know how much he loves her. He’s running out of time."

The Whale is set for release on December 9.