There are a handful of “good guys” in Hollywood who seem able to do no wrong. The public loves them, and they offer joy simply by appearing in projects, regardless of quality. The shortlist includes at least three men: Stanley Tucci, Hugh Jackman, and Brendan Fraser.

Fraser has long been on the good guy list but fell off the public radar for years due to a variety of factors, although he has stated he was never truly gone. Regardless of where he was, he will always be the Encino Man to some, The Mummy Guy to others, and even the head-turning George of the Jungle. Fraser has been in over fifty-two films, some of which relegated him to small supporting roles, but we all knew he was primed for a comeback.

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Current Projects

     A24

In recent years, Fraser’s face, but mostly his voice, could be found on the show Doom Patrol as Cliff Steele and in a film that has kicked up quite a bit of buzz, The Whale.

This is the film that has people talking about the fifty-four-year-old actor. His Critic’s Choice Award and probable Oscar win will reopen doors that may have been previously closed. In the film, he plays a morbidly obese teacher with a short time left to live. Nobody else but Fraser could convey the deep pain and kindness needed to play the role of Charlie.

Fraser can do drama, and do it well, but he’s most beloved when allowed to be a little silly and have fun on screen. He is also a great action star, and though his swashbuckling Mummy days may be behind him (due in large part to injuries suffered on that film), that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still have some action left in him.

Brendan Fraser in Modern Action

     FX

It would be great to see him in a David Leitch movie. The director, who made movies such as Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde, and Deadpool 2 is having a blast with snappy dialogue and cool action. In fact, this is the director who made comedian Bob Odenkirk into an action star in Nobody. Leitch could definitely find a part for a guy who can do snap dialogue and looks dapper in a tailored suit.

Along those lines, why not have him be a part of the John Wick universe? Again, we have a world where everyone’s an assassin or running hotels for them. Make Fraser a pivotal character in one of these films. He could be the titular head of the Continental or even the evil head of a group of assassins we have not yet been introduced to. The main thing for Fraser is that the role is meaty and worth his time and newfound fame. Much like Stanley Tucci, Fraser’s appearance may now always feel like a cameo. We do not always remember the character’s name but walk out of the film saying, “Wow, Fraser was great in this one!”

The Possibility of Remakes

     Universal

Mr. Fraser (that sounds so formal with such a nice guy), may be ready for some new movies, but he may also be a good fit for a remake or two. Hollywood churns them out like clockwork, so why not get him involved in a perfect project? Although the movie Marlowe will be opening soon, Fraser would be great as Philip Marlowe in a remake of The Big Sleep. He could play the hard-nosed private detective, scoping out the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles in the 1950s. As we’ve said, he looks great in a tailored suit, and he would bring a level of charm that might rival Bogart’s original.

If that seems too serious, what about a remake of The Thin Man? This is a classic film that originally starred William Powell and Myrna Loy. It was made in 1934 and is one of the best husband-and-wife crime/comedy films in the vaults. Fraser would be excellent as the charming but streetwise Nick Charles. Plus, put him opposite The Mummy costar Rachel Weisz as his equally streetwise and uber-wealthy heiress wife, Nora. The great thing is that they get to solve a great murder mystery and still have a great time playing off each other. Snappy dialogue, cool clothes, and even a stage-stealing dog; Fraser would kill in the role.

Superhero Movies

     Warner Bros. Pictures/@lesliegrace

The odds are that Fraser will succumb to the great superhero gods. We did say he was already Robotman, but maybe there is a more mainstream character? Trick question. Fraser recently brought a supervillain to life for the silver screen. The problem is that we will probably never see his performance.

For people that do not know, Fraser was cast, learned his lines, spoke them, and was wrapped on a little project called Batgirl. That same project was completed but shelved by Warner Bros for tax purposes. That means his “new take” on the villain of Firefly will probably never see the light of day. This is a shame because seeing Fraser as a villain would be excellent. The good guy everyone likes playing a character we’re meant to dislike? If he does a good job would we hate him? Could we?

Brendan Fraser is considered a man of the people. He’s the actor we all feel bad that we forgot. We want to cheer for him, not out of guilt but out of actual joy. No matter what his next project is, everyone will be watching and will all agree on how great he still is.