Mummy star Brendan Fraser and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky team up to film the play The Whale by writer Samuel D Hunter about a morbidly obese recluse.
According to Deadline, Hunter will adapt the film based on his 2012 play.
“Adapting my play to a script was a real love affair for me. This story is deeply personal and I am very grateful that it will have the chance to reach a wider audience. I’ve been a fan of Darren since watching Requiem for a Dream when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I’m so grateful that he brings his unique talent and vision to this film, “said the playwright a statement.
The whale revolves around a 600-pound middle-aged man, Charlie, and his attempts to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter. The two became estranged after Charlie left his family for his gay lover, who later died. Charlie then turned to compulsive eating out of grief.
The play was critically acclaimed on its debut in 2012 and won both the Drama Desk Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. It also received nominations for the Drama League and the Outer Critics Circle.
Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures will also produce the film, which is also his first directing project since the thriller Mother with Jennifer Lawrence.