Movies Brendan Fraser receives standing ovation at 'The Whale' premiere at Venice Film Festival At the Venice Film Festival, the actor's performance in the Darren Aronofsky movie was greeted with enthusiastic acclaim. By Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite Lester Fabian Brathwaite is a staff writer at Entertainment Weekly, where he covers breaking news, all things Real Housewives, and a rich cornucopia of popular culture. Formerly a senior editor at Out magazine, his work has appeared on NewNowNext, Queerty, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker. He was also the first author signed to Phoebe Robinson's Tiny Reparations imprint. He met Oprah once. EW's editorial guidelines Published on September 4, 2022 09:25PM EDT The accolades are already starting to roll in for Brendan Fraser's performance in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale. After winning the Toronto International Film Festival's TIFF Tribute Award, Fraser was greeted with a standing ovation at the movie's Venice Film Festival premiere so rousing he cut short his exit to take it all in. In the film, Fraser plays a reclusive English teacher with a compulsive overeating disorder, attempting to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). An adaptation of MacArthur-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter's acclaimed 2012 play of the same name, The Whale also stars Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, and Ty Simpkins. Brendan Fraser as Charlie in 'The Whale'. A24 "It's gonna be like something you haven't seen before," Fraser told Unilad last year of the film. "That's really all I can tell you. 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." The Whale does not have a theatrical date yet. Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Related content: Brendan Fraser transforms into recluse affected by obesity in The Whale first look Brendan Fraser's transformative Whale performance wins major pre-Oscars award 2023 Oscars predictions: Brendan Fraser, Viola Davis, Avatar, and more contenders to watch