Brendan Fraser Shares Sweet Thoughts On Mummy Returns Co-Star Dwayne Johnson Receiving Praise For The Smashing Machine

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Credit: Universal Pictures

Oscar winner Brendan Fraser is happily pausing his Brenissance 2.0 to cheer on a friend. As Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson earns early acclaim for his vulnerable turn in the upcoming The Smashing Machine, the George of the Jungle veteran star lit up when asked about his former The Mummy Returns (sorta) scene partner stepping into a bruising prestige role — and potentially the thick of awards season.

While promoting his own 2025 movie schedule release Rental Family, Fraser spoke with People at TIFF. TheWhale star said it’s “exciting” to see Johnson in this new phase, fresh off festival raves and headed for a busy fall. In his words:

That endorsement lands with extra warmth given their shared history. Johnson’s big-screen debut came opposite the Crash actor in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, though the two technically never spoke on set, but they have traded support ever since. When Fraser’s The Whale comeback drew standing ovations in 2022, Johnson publicly cheered him on and recalled how the Brothers performer welcomed him into the popular Mummy franchise for his first film role. Fraser called that message “really nice,” a small gesture fans of both men still cite as a highlight of the Brenaissance.

Credit: A24

Johnson’s latest performance, as MMA legend Mark Kerr in the upcoming A24 release, has been framed as a deliberate shift away from action movie franchise mode toward something more vulnerable. The Venice-to-Toronto buzz has only stoked curiosity about how far the star is willing to peel back the persona. With a U.S. and Canada theatrical date set for October 3, the stage is set for a second, very different act from the guy who once turned up as the Scorpion King.

Brendan Fraser knows that terrain. Two award seasons ago, he rode festival love all the way to Best Actor for The Whale, a role that asked him to be present, exposed, and unguarded. His read on Johnson — “you’ll be seeing a lot more of him on these red carpets” — sounds less like wishful thinking and more like recognition. He’s seen how a single, fully committed performance can realign a career, and he is more than a little qualified to recognize the telltale signs that a familiar face is about to surprise a lot of audience members.

Credit: Universal Pictures

Meanwhile, the Doom Patrol alum is keeping his own momentum. Though he’s been candid about being “picky” with his next roles, he finally has a follow-up: Rental Family, which could put him back in the award season mix. He plays an American actor in Tokyo hired by a “rental family” agency to stand in for strangers, and the film is set for a November 21 release.

This post-Oscar run has taken him from Killers of the Flower Moon to intimate festival fare. And the Brenaissance train refuses to hit the gas yet—he’s taking another measured swing with his upcoming D-Day movie Pressure, reportedly another grab the tissues entry. With each new role, Brendan Fraser’s comeback looks less like a blip and more like a mission to move audiences with heartfelt, memorable work.

If The Smashing Machine becomes Johnson’s gateway to the prestige circuit, the Inkheart actor is the perfect person to welcome him to the party.