Trivia: The film was widely hailed as the peak of the "Brenaissance," a bit of a meme about the career resurgence for star Brendan Fraser, who was a mainstay in Hollywood in the 90s and early 2000s before his career began to dry up due to a variety of factors. Fraser is widely beloved by audiences and many of his former co-stars, and he was cheered on by them when the film was released.
Trivia: Although he was nominated for the Golden Globe Best Actor in Drama (in The Whale), Brendan Fraser chose not to attend the Golden Globe Awards, as he alleges that in 2003 he was sexually assaulted by a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press, the body behind the Globes' nomination and voting processes. That incident, along with some health issues, largely derailed his acting career.
Trivia: Brendan Fraser's performance was so well received at the Venice Film Festival that he received a six minute standing ovation which brought him to tears.
Trivia: The film has had some controversy with the use of an actor wearing a prosthetic "fat suit," and perceived "fatphobic" themes. Director Darren Aronofsky defended the film, saying that he wanted to create a realistic film that showed characters who aren't all good or all bad, and that he didn't understand why the prosthetics for his film were specifically being criticized, as special effects makeup have always been a tool used by actors and films.
Trivia: The prosthetic suit Brendan Fraser had to wear for the film weighed nearly 300 pounds, caused his muscles great strain and would leave him with vertigo when it'd be removed at the end of the day. He said that wearing it gave him much more respect and empathy for people who struggle with obesity, as he realised how strong they have to be both physically and mentally.
Trivia: Director Darren Aronofsky wanted to make the film ever since the play it's based on debuted, but struggled to find the right actor to play Charlie. He happened to see a trailer for a film starring Brendan Fraser and realised he was the perfect actor for the role.
