Oscar winner Brendan Fraser drops out of Off-Broadway play less than a month before performances start

There’s been a change of plans with Brendan Fraser’s next role.The Oscar winner, 56, dropped out of the Off-Broadway production of “Grangeville” one month before the show begins.Signature Theatre announced Monday that Paul Sparks, 53, is replacing Fraser in the show.

“We are excited to announce Paul Sparks (BOARDWALK EMPIRE, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE) has joined Brian J.Smith as a member of the GRANGEVILLE cast, replacing Brendan Fraser, who has had to step away due to unforeseen circumstances,” the Instagram statement read.

 “You might have seen Paul Sparks at Signature in Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo back in 2018, and we can’t wait to welcome him back to the Center,” Signature Theatre added.The Post has reached out to Fraser’s rep for comment.Fraser was set to star as Jerry opposite “Sense 8” actor Brian J.Smith in the new play, written by Samuel D.

Hunter and directed by Jack Serio.The show is still scheduled to premiere at New York City’s New York City’s Off-Broadway Signature Theatre on Feb.4 and run until March 16.Signature Theatre’s synopsis of “Grangeville” reads, “Across a void of thousands of miles and oceans of hurt, two half-brothers tentatively reconnect over the care of their ailing mother. Grangeville is a new play about the fallibility of memory, the stories we tell to make sense of our suffering, and the complexity of forgiveness.”Fans expressed their concern for Fraser following the news of his exit from the show.“Sad about Brendan and hope everything is alright,” one fan wrote in the comments of Signature Theatre’s Instagram post.“Hope Brendan is ok!!” added another fan.A different fan said on X (formerly Twitter) that they were “pissed” about the news.Fraser’s last public appearance was on December 8 at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.

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