The Whale Movie: Release Date, Trailer and Cast Details

Fans are predicting a clean sweep across the board at the next awards season for The Whale, starring one of the most unanimously loved actors.

Darren Aronofsky directs in his follow-up to Mother! and the film is an adaptation of a play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter. and the film tells the tale of a recluse named Charlie. He’s an English teacher battling with a compulsive eating disorder, and is attempting to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie. It’s an emotional ride.

Charlie left his family for his male lover, but when his new partner later dies, it triggers a dangerous chain of events for his health and wellbeing, and he soon ends up at 600lbs.

The Whale First Look

You’ll still have to wait for a trailer for The Whale, however a first look photo has been released, and fans have been stunned by Brendan Fraser’s transformation as Charlie.

Fraser said last year: "The wardrobe and costume was extensive, seamless, cumbersome. This is certainly far removed from anything I've ever done but not to be coy… I do know it's going to make a lasting impression."

Fans are excited for his return, tweeting: “BRENAISSANCE !!! BRENAISSANCE !!! BRENAISSANCE !!!”

“The range on this beautiful man. We are truly experiencing a Brenaissance.”

“Oscar for Best Actor, surely?”

When is The Whale coming out?

There is no theatrical release date yet, but it is set to debut at at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. It is premiering alongside ‘Pearl’ and ‘The Eternal Daughter’.

Who is in the cast of The Whale?

This role is Brendan Fraser’s first time back as a leading man since 2013's Breakout, which went straight-to-DVD. He’s also set to appear in ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ and starring as a villain in ‘Batgirl’ later this year, after his rise to fame as Rick O' Connell in the early 2000s The Mummy films. His daughter, Ellie, is played by Stranger Things breakout star Sadie Sink, who many fans feel was snubbed at recent award nominations. Maybe The Whale will change her fortunes. Samantha Morton is known to many from ‘The Minority Report’ and ‘The Messenger’.

Sadie told Vanity Fair: "[Director] Darren Aronofsky is obviously brilliant, and working with him was a really formative experience, and Brendan is so incredible in it, and also just probably my favourite human on the planet. 

"It was so amazing having that experience with him. I learned a lot about myself as an actress, and tapped into a side of things that I hadn't really explored before." 

• Brendan Fraser as Charlie
• Sadie Sink as Ellie
• Samantha Morton as Mary
• Ty Simpkins as Thomas
• Hong Chau as Liz
• Huck Milner as Ben
• Ryan Heinke as Dave