Brendan Fraser to Play 600-Pound Gay Man Eating Himself to Death in Darren Aronofsky's 'The Whale'

It was announced this week that filmmaker Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan," "Requiem for a Dream") will team up with actor Brendan Fraser for an adaptation of the play "The Whale." In the planned film "Mummy" star will play a 600-pound gay man eating himself death but is desperate to reunite with his estranged daughter, Film Stage reports.

The film is an adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter's 2012 play and will be distributed by A24. Deadline writes "the production was praised by the New York Times and won the Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play and a GLAAD Media Award, and received Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations."

"Adapting my play into a screenplay has been a real labor of love for me," Hunter told Deadline. "This story is deeply personal and I'm very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I've been a fan of Darren's ever since I saw 'Requiem for a Dream' when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I'm so grateful that he's bringing his singular talent and vision to this film."

IndieWire reports that film's approved synopsis reads: "From Darren Aronofsky comes 'The Whale,' the story of a reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. Starring Brendan Fraser and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter."

"The Whale" is Aronofsky's follow up to his film "mother!," starring Jennifer Lawrence. Fraser has recently appeared on the TV series "Trust" and the D.C. Comics series "Doom Patrol."