Brendan Fraser and Dwayne Johnson: Hollywood’s Enduring Stars Celebrate New Triumphs
TORONTO, ON – Hollywood is buzzing with a familiar yet refreshed energy as two of its most enduring stars, Brendan Fraser and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, find themselves at the center of critical acclaim and awards speculation. Twenty-four years after their memorable collaboration in the 2001 action-adventure hit The Mummy Returns, Fraser, 56, is vocally celebrating his former co-star’s dramatic transformation, predicting an influx of red-carpet appearances for Johnson, 53, following the rave reviews for his new film, The Smashing Machine.
Johnson’s latest venture, a stark departure from his prolific career in high-octane action blockbusters, sees him portray former UFC fighter Mark Kerr. The film premiered to significant critical buzz at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2025, before making its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, September 9, 2025. Critics are already hailing Johnson’s performance as a potential major contender for the upcoming awards season, marking a pivotal moment in his career trajectory that began with his impactful big-screen debut alongside Fraser.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he was promoting his own upcoming film, Rental Family, Brendan Fraser expressed his excitement. “I know, I can’t wait,” Fraser said of The Smashing Machine. When asked about witnessing Johnson’s two-decade evolution in the industry, Fraser quipped with a laugh, “That’s the kind of thing that you ask him to ask about me.” He quickly added, with genuine admiration, “Dwayne, he’s a really great guy and it’s gonna be exciting to watch him emerge from this. I predict you’ll be seeing a lot more of him on these red carpets in the days to come.”
Brendan Fraser’s Return to the Spotlight at TIFF 2025
Fraser’s own career has experienced a remarkable renaissance in recent years, culminating in a historic win for Best Actor at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 for his profoundly moving performance in Darren Aronofsky’s 2022 drama, The Whale. This prestigious Oscar, his first, capped an impressive awards season journey that also saw him secure a Critics Choice Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, cementing his triumphant return to the cinematic forefront. Since his critically lauded role in The Whale, Fraser has continued to diversify his roles, appearing in Behind the Curtain of Night, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, and Brothers.
Now, Fraser takes on a unique role in Rental Family, directed by Japanese filmmaker Hikari. In the film, he portrays an American actor living in Tokyo who is hired by a Japanese ‘rental family’ agency to play stand-in roles for strangers in various life scenarios. Director Hikari revealed to PEOPLE her deliberate choice to cast Fraser, citing his performance in The Whale as key. “He’s so vulnerable, he’s so kind, and you can see that and I think the quality that I was looking for Philip, it was just all there,” Hikari stated. She further shared the immediate connection they formed: “After meeting him, it was just so easy. We met for coffee and end up staying together for like 6 or 7 hours at dinner and we didn’t talk about movies, we just talk about life and that’s exactly what I was looking for.”
As the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs until September 14, 2025, continues to showcase groundbreaking cinema, both Fraser and Johnson’s latest projects are eagerly anticipated by audiences worldwide. Dwayne Johnson’s The Smashing Machine is slated for a theatrical release on October 3, 2025, while Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family will follow on November 21, 2025, promising an exciting autumn for fans of these celebrated actors.
