Again within the early 2000s, Warner Bros. turned to J.J. Abrams to reinvent the Man of Metal with Superman: Flyby. Dozens of up-and-coming stars auditioned, amongst them Brendan Fraser, who not solely learn for the a part of Superman however really donned the long-lasting swimsuit for a Brett Ratner–directed screentest.
Whereas talking with Josh Horowitz on Joyful Unhappy Confused, Fraser mirrored on the expertise and why he’s in the end glad it didn’t work out.
“I loved that screenplay,” he mentioned. “They let me learn it. They locked me in an empty workplace in some studio lot, signed an NDA. It was printed black on crimson paper. So that you couldn’t photocopy it or sneak it out the door inconspicuously. It was Shakespeare in house. It was a very good screenplay, it actually was.“
Fraser continued, “So yes, I was considered, I did a screen test, I did wear the big guy suit. I also remember thinking, ‘If I do get this job, then I think Superman’s going to be chipped on my gravestone.’ Like, there’s an element of ‘you are that’ for the rest of your days. That’s not a bad thing, but it is something that becomes part of your entire brand, who you are. And I don’t know if I was ready to take that on then. I mean, I felt I was because you know, big opportunity and excitement, but I don’t know.”
The actor then referenced director Terry George, with whom he labored on Entire Lotta Sole, who mentioned, “‘If it’s not for you, then it’ll pass you by.’ And it wasn’t for me.” After extra administrators, writers, and forged members got here and went, Superman: Flyby in the end grew to become Superman Returns.
Fraser can at the moment be seen starring in Rental Household, a comedy-drama during which he performs a lonely American actor dwelling in Tokyo who begins working for a Japanese rental household service to play stand-in roles in different individuals’s lives. You possibly can take a look at a assessment from our personal Chris Bumbray proper right here. He’s additionally set to reunite with Rachel Weisz for The Mummy 4, a brand new movie within the journey franchise which Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Prepared or Not) will direct from a script by David Coggeshall (The Household Plan).
