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Brendan Fraser’s ‘Rental Family’ to Premiere at London Film Festival

C2C Desk

C2C Desk

Published: : August 13, 2025, 09:21 PM

Brendan Fraser’s ‘Rental Family’ to Premiere at London Film Festival
Brendan Fraser in Rental Family Searchlight Pictures

Brendan Fraser will return to the big screen in Rental Family, a heartfelt comedy-drama directed and co-written by Hikari, best known for 37 Seconds and the Netflix series Beef. The film will have its U.K. premiere as the American Express Gala presentation at the 69th BFI London Film Festival on October 16, with both Fraser and Hikari expected to attend. The festival runs from October 8–19 in London.

Set in present-day Tokyo, Rental Family tells the story of an American actor, played by Fraser, who is struggling to find meaning in life. His fortunes shift when he takes an unusual job at a Japanese “rental family” agency, where people hire stand-ins to fill personal roles, from missing relatives to supportive friends. As his character becomes more involved in his clients’ lives, professional boundaries blur, leading him to confront the moral dilemmas of his work while rediscovering purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.

The film features an ensemble cast including Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. Produced by Eddie Vaisman, Julie Lebedev, Hikari, and Shin Yamaguchi, Rental Family is scheduled for U.K. theatrical release in January 2026.

“I’m humbled and honored to return to the BFI London Film Festival with my second feature,” said Hikari. “Though inspired by a real and sometimes unusual business in Japan, the story is ultimately about people seeking connection and discovering friendship in modern Tokyo.”

Festival director Kristy Matheson praised Hikari’s latest work, calling it a “generous and witty” exploration of human relationships, and adding that Fraser delivers a performance that will once again win over audiences.

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