Brendan Fraser Is Headed To TV, Because All Dreams Come True

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Actor Brendan Fraser was a big name on the big screen a decade or two ago. He became a notable name in showbiz after the commercial success of George of the Jungle in 1997, and he became a bona fide movie star after the surprise smash hit that was The Mummy in 1999. He's kept busy in the years since, with no fewer than twenty-six films to his name since The Mummy. He hasn't done much on TV, however. Now, he's coming to the small screen in what could be a big and awesome way. Brendan Fraser has signed of for a role on Showtime's The Affair.

Brendan Fraser will recur in multiple episodes in Season 3 of The Affair, according to Deadline. There are no details just yet about what kind of character he'll be playing, but he should make for a solid addition to a cast that's already pretty stellar. Fraser has tackled roles in just about every genre; he should fit in with the multiple-perspective drama.

The Affair will be Brendan Fraser's second TV project in recent years, although the other one was miniseries. He previously had a key role in the 2015 History Channel miniseries Texas Rising, which told the story of the Texas Revolution against Mexico over a span of ten episodes. Fraser played Texas Ranger Billy Anderson. The series itself received mixed reviews, but the cast received praise for their performances.

Prior to Texas Rising, Brendan Fraser's most memorable TV role had to be Ben Sullivan on Scrubs. Ben only appeared in three episodes of the comedy, but they were fantastic episodes that managed to add some heartbreak to the humor. I'm still a little sniffly just remembering how Ben's arc ended. If Fraser can channel even a little bit of what made him so great on both Texas Rising and Scrubs, he could be a highlight of The Affair Season 3.

Despite a title that hints as torrid love scenes and constant scandal, The Affair focuses more on the emotional effects of an affair between two characters rather than on the sex scenes and sneaking around (although early on there were those too). The show presents events through multiple perspectives, complete with different conversations and even clothing as characters remember encounters differently. The two characters who engage in their affair as well as their wronged spouses all starred in their own versions of events throughout the two seasons to date.

We shouldn't expect Brendan Fraser's new character to get the chance to lead his own perspectives. Still, hopefully he'll make enough of an impression in the narrative that he'll be able to stick around for a while. The Affair returns to Showtime for Season 3 on Sunday, November 20 at 10 p.m. Check out our fall TV premiere schedule to see what else you'll be able to watch in the not-too-distant future.

Laura Hurley
Senior Content Producer

Laura turned a lifelong love of television into a valid reason to write and think about TV on a daily basis. She's not a doctor, lawyer, or detective, but watches a lot of them in primetime. CinemaBlend's resident expert and interviewer for One Chicago, the galaxy far, far away, and a variety of other primetime television. Will not time travel and can cite multiple TV shows to explain why. She does, however, want to believe that she can sneak references to The X-Files into daily conversation (and author bios).