At the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival, Shashat Media spoke with Brendan Fraser about longevity, creative risk, and what he is searching for next in his career.
Fraser explained that at this stage of his life, he is actively looking for a new project that challenges him in ways he has not experienced before. Rather than repeating familiar territory, he said it is important to keep diversity across a career, both in the roles chosen and the stories explored. For him, growth comes from stepping into the unknown.
Reflecting on his career, Fraser said he feels fortunate. His profession has allowed him to travel widely, experience different cultures, and meet people from all walks of life. That exposure, he noted, has shown him just how much material exists in the world. At the same time, he admitted that this abundance makes it harder to find work that truly stands out.
“There’s so much content now,” he said, noting that even basic filmmaking tools are far more accessible than when he first started. Setting up a camera today is easier than ever. The real challenge, he explained, is finding work that people genuinely want to see and connect with.
That search for distinction is what drives him now.
Fraser also spoke fondly about filming The Mummy in Morocco, recalling the experience of shooting in the Marrakech mountains. He described the location as unforgettable, despite the demanding conditions, and said those memories remain some of the most vivid of his career.
The conversation turned to The Whale, a project Fraser described as especially difficult to make due to the circumstances. Filmed during the pandemic, the production faced challenges both practical and emotional. Fraser praised director Darren Aronofsky for his courage in making the film at that moment and for believing audiences would return to cinemas to experience it. For Fraser, that belief was essential to the film’s existence.
He also discussed Rental Family, a project that placed him in unfamiliar territory. Fraser admitted he did not speak Japanese and entered the experience without cultural certainty. But he emphasized that language was never the real barrier. The film, he said, is about family, how we define it, and what we choose to believe it is.
At Red Sea 2024, Fraser came across as reflective and grounded, focused not on past success but on the work still ahead. For him, the next chapter is not about comfort, but about discovery.
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