Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Brendan Fraser to play obese 600lb recluse in new drama The Whale

00:53

The Whale: Brendan Fraser to play obese 600lb character in new drama

Brendan Fraser is set to star as a 600lb reclusive man in Darren Aronofsky's new drama The Whale.

The film is an adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter's off-broadway play about a morbidly obese recluse who is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter.

To inhabit the role, Fraser underwent a significant physical transformation and the first images of his character have been shared ahead of release.

It is the Hollywood star's first lead role in nearly a decade, following 2013’s straight-to-DVD thriller Breakout.

Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Up next

Game of Thrones star criticises people ‘ignoring’ Gaza conflict

01:01

Game of Thrones star criticises people ‘ignoring’ Gaza conflict

Hugh Grant reveals why Daniel Cleaver is making Bridget Jones return

01:51

Hugh Grant reveals why Daniel Cleaver is making Bridget Jones return

Jennifer Aniston’s favourite go-to comfort food revealed

01:09

Jennifer Aniston’s favourite go-to comfort food revealed

Dead Marvel superhero seen in new Deadpool and Wolverine trailer

02:37

Dead Marvel superhero seen in new Deadpool and Wolverine trailer

Editor’s Picks

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

35:16

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

I traveled 300 miles to chase the total solar eclipse

02:51

I traveled 300 miles to chase the total solar eclipse

Simon Calder answers your holiday questions in live event

59:34

Simon Calder answers your holiday questions in live event

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

More Editor’s Picks

On The Ground

Baltimore will rebuild, but at what cost? | On The Ground

03:35

Baltimore will rebuild, but at what cost? | On The Ground

New Yorkers turn to self-defence classes as punching attacks continue

03:45

New Yorkers turn to self-defence classes as punching attacks continue

This 26-year-old could be Biden’s secret weapon | On The Ground

07:34

This 26-year-old could be Biden’s secret weapon | On The Ground

The NHS nurse fighting to be heard | On The Ground

08:19

The NHS nurse fighting to be heard | On The Ground

More On The Ground

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Decomplicated

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

04:31

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

07:30

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

03:34

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

How does the Iowa Caucus pick the next US president? | Decomplicated

03:18

How does the Iowa Caucus pick the next US president? | Decomplicated

More Decomplicated

Binge Watch

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Actor and Actress?

11:34

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Actor and Actress?

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Picture and Best Director?

11:49

Oscars 2024: Who will win Best Picture and Best Director?

Big Brother’s Jordan and Henry on life after the house

14:24

Big Brother’s Jordan and Henry on life after the house

Baftas 2024: Best British film nominees you need to watch

11:18

Baftas 2024: Best British film nominees you need to watch

More Binge Watch

Music Box

03:11

Watch Gia Ford perform her brand new single ‘Poolside’ on Music Box

Gia Ford performs ‘Falling in Love Again’

04:08

Gia Ford performs ‘Falling in Love Again’

Dylan John Thomas performs ‘Wake Up Ma’ on Music Box

03:04

Dylan John Thomas performs ‘Wake Up Ma’ on Music Box

Watch Dylan John Thomas perform his single ‘Fever’ on Music Box

02:44

Watch Dylan John Thomas perform his single ‘Fever’ on Music Box

Travel Smart

Here’s why Greece is still a firm family summer holiday favourite

09:14

Here’s why Greece is still a firm family summer holiday favourite

Find your perfect seasonal city break

08:18

Find your perfect seasonal city break

Discover the diverse appeals of Fuerteventura

07:35

Discover the diverse appeals of Fuerteventura

Sunny holiday escapes no matter the time of year | Travel Smart

11:36

Sunny holiday escapes no matter the time of year | Travel Smart

More Travel Smart

Love Lives

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

35:16

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

Tom Walker: ‘Songwriting is my therapy’

36:50

Tom Walker: ‘Songwriting is my therapy’

Author Ela Lee: ‘We need to take blackout sex more seriously’

37:41

Author Ela Lee: ‘We need to take blackout sex more seriously’

Love Lives: If men went through menopause, it would be a disaster

43:16

Love Lives: If men went through menopause, it would be a disaster

More Love Lives

You Ask The Questions

Kirstie Allsopp gives her tips for selling your home

08:49

Kirstie Allsopp gives her tips for selling your home

How to avoid fast fashion this Christmas | You Ask The Questions

06:38

How to avoid fast fashion this Christmas | You Ask The Questions

How do you get the best deal on Black Friday?

03:39

How do you get the best deal on Black Friday?

Has Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle changed the fate of his government?

06:50

Has Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle changed the fate of his government?

More You Ask The Questions

News

Army shares update after cavalry horses rampage through London

01:41

Army shares update after cavalry horses rampage through London

Biden ignores questions on TikTok ban and university protests

00:25

Biden ignores questions on TikTok ban and university protests

Escapee horse appears to be injured as army locate missing animal

00:38

Escapee horse appears to be injured as army locate missing animal

Witness recalls chaos as blood-soaked horses ran loose through London

00:58

Witness recalls chaos as blood-soaked horses ran loose through London

Sport

Pochettino bemoans Chelsea’s inconsistency after Arsenal humiliation

01:19

Pochettino bemoans Chelsea’s inconsistency after Arsenal humiliation

Delighted Ben White praises Arsenal unity after 5-0 Chelsea thrashing

01:18

Delighted Ben White praises Arsenal unity after 5-0 Chelsea thrashing

Inter Miami confirm signing of Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas

01:20

Inter Miami confirm signing of Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas

Erik ten Hag hits back at journalists over ‘disgraceful’ comments

01:10

Erik ten Hag hits back at journalists over ‘disgraceful’ comments

Climate

Bridge collapses into river in China during powerful floods

00:54

Bridge collapses into river in China during powerful floods

Residents evacuated as heavy rainfall floods southern Chinese cities

01:14

Residents evacuated as heavy rainfall floods southern Chinese cities

Dubai: Cars abandoned in flooded streets as UAE begins clean up

00:33

Dubai: Cars abandoned in flooded streets as UAE begins clean up

Severe weather lashes Virginia as golf ball-sized hail reported

00:21

Severe weather lashes Virginia as golf ball-sized hail reported

Lifestyle

Tower Bridge walkway underside glass cleaned for first time in decade

01:03

Tower Bridge walkway underside glass cleaned for first time in decade

Josh O’Connor reveals which player inspired Challengers banana scene

00:32

Josh O’Connor reveals which player inspired Challengers banana scene

Charlotte Church says she is living a life of ‘nature and healing’

01:03

Charlotte Church says she is living a life of ‘nature and healing’

Fleur East’s message to struggling parents after ‘whirlwind’ month

00:23

Fleur East’s message to struggling parents after ‘whirlwind’ month

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

STEM campaigner Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on workplace bias

04:34

STEM campaigner Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on workplace bias

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

More Galaxy The Ripple Effect

E.ON Next Power Switch

Episode One - Cooking

03:13

Episode One - Cooking

Episode Two - Entertainment

03:10

Episode Two - Entertainment

Episode Three - Body Care

02:48

Episode Three - Body Care

Episode Four - Lighting

03:12

Episode Four - Lighting

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative

AlUla

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

01:51

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

02:07

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

02:00

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

02:09

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard