The rise, fall and rise again of Brendan Fraser

When The Mummy was released in 1999, Fraser was well on course to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The film itself was a reimagination of the Indiana Jones trope which has been immortalised by Harrison Ford. In essence, Fraser was tipped to become the new Harrison Ford. But unfortunately, it never materialised, due to tragic circumstances in his life that derailed his personal and professional life. While he may not have been who many would’ve earmarked as the next superstar, but he was one in his own right, considering he was typecast as a slapstick comedy star after appearing in hits such as Dudley Do-Right, George of the Jungle, Blast From the Past, and Bedazzled.

It would be unfair on Fraser if it were suggested that he is a one-dimensional actor because he did appear in other genres as well during the 90s. A few films did showcase hints of potential but none that turned heads. It was his portrayal as the swashbuckling treasure hunter Rick O’Connell, alongside British actor Rachel Weiz, that propelled him to stardom which in turn made several of his popcorn flicks cult classics. But the actor’s success was short-lived despite the commercial success of The Mummy Returns. He did appear in the Academy Award-winning film Crash in 2004 but his run as a bankable star in Hollywood was relatively short-lived.

Fraser was stuck in the proverbial ‘Hollywood purgatory’ for years, alluding to depression, a failed marriage, and health issues. In 2018, he alleged that Philip Berk, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, sexually assaulted him. He claims that the incident and the backlash from the industry for speaking out derailed his career and affected his mental health. His own #MeToo moment was brushed under the carpet for years. If it has indeed been significant his career trajectory taking a nosedive, it is indicative of why several young actresses refused to come forward. If a bankable male star at the peak of his powers can disappear into the wilderness, an up and coming actress doesn’t stand a chance against the wrath of the industry.

Fraser did odd projects over the years but none that helped him reestablish his career back on track. It wasn’t until DC released its own streaming platform called DC Universe did Fraser get his lifeline to return to the big leagues. The DC Universe original show, which has since merged with HBO Max, Doom Patrol, cast Fraser as the Cliff Steele aka Robotman. The show ended up being a critical success and is widely regarded as one of the most underrated superhero shows created in recent years. It boasts an impressive cast that includes former James Bond, Timothy Dalton, Matt Bomer, Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, and Alan Tudyk. The show was praised for its portrayal of the complex characters whilst exploiting several socio-political themes, and also for its satire on the idea of a superhero.

Dianne Guerrero as Crazy Jane and Fraser himself was praised for depicting some of the most tragic characters ever written for television. Cliff Steele does have Fraser's trademark humour, but there is so much more to the character than just humour. Unlike several of Fraser’s popular characters from the 90s, there is a lot of emotional depth written for the character. It is almost ironic that a character who is a robot, made of metal and screws, is more human and relatable than a vast majority of the characters written for television — Fraser’s performance is also pivotal in how well the character has effortlessly transitioned to screen. He is set to appear in yet another DC live-action series, Batgirl. He will portray the villain Garfield Lynn aka Firefly and will be set in the same universe as Ben Affleck’s Batman. J K Simmons will reprise his role as Commissioner Jim Gordon and Leslie Grace has been cast as Barbara Gordon, the first Batgirl.

Fraser’s renaissance is set to continue with rumours of a fourth Mummy film in the works. Whether another film from the franchise is warranted is debatable, but it is a sign that Fraser’s career is finally back on track.