Hollywood: Brendan Fraser

By Tony Rizzo

HOLLYWOOD -- Could it merely be a coincidence that Timothee Chalamet's "Bones & All" (due Nov. 23), directed by "Call Me by Your Name's" Luca Guadagnino, is a film about two cannibals in love, the very thing that sent his "Call Me" co-star Armie Hammer's career off the rails? "Bones & All" contains scenes that involve limb-chewing and gory attacks. In January 2021, a woman posted screenshots of Hammer's alleged messages stating: "I am 100% a cannibal, and I want to eat you," and "I need to drink your blood."

Since the cannabalism never actually happened, the exchanges could have just been naughty banter due to intoxication. Doing damage control, Hammer completed nine months of rehab treatment in December 2021. Still, his wife of 10 years, Elizabeth Chambers, divorced him in December 2020.

Chalamet created a sensation at the Venice Film Festival premiere, wearing a sparkling, backless red jumpsuit. After the showing, he received a standing ovation. He has upcoming lead roles in "Dune: Part Two" (due November 2023) and "Wonka" (due Dec. 15, 2023). Luca Guadagnino also announced plans for a sequel of "Call Me by Your Name" (without Armie Hammer, who has been relegated to selling timeshares in the Cayman Islands).

***

Brendan Fraser was a handsome leading man, who scored with "Encino Man" (1992); "George of the Jungle" (1997); "Gods and Monsters" (1998); "Dudley Do-Right" (1999), "The Mummy" trilogy (1999-2008); the 3D epic "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (2008); and "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" (2009). After making 51 films, Fraser faded from view because of injuries he sustained from complicated stunts for "The Mummy" franchise (which grossed $1 billion, $245 million). Fraser also felt he'd been blacklisted because he accused a powerful former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press of "groping" him.

Brendan Fraser in "The Whale". PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of A24

Fraser appeared at the Venice Film Festival for his new film, in which he's a 600-pound man struggling with health issues and trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The film, aptly named "The Whale," earned him an eight-and-a-half-minute standing ovation at its premiere, which, when posted on social media, received approximately 16 million views. Dwayne Johnson took to Twitter saying, "Man, this makes me so happy to see this beautiful ovation for Brendan. He supported me coming into his 'Mummy Returns' franchise for my first ever role, which kicked off my Hollywood career. Rooting for all your success, brother."

Prosthetics and CGI helped Fraser become "The Whale." No doubt he'll have a whale of a time getting back to his normal self!

(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.