Brendan Fraser’s 'Rental Family' Trailer Explores Tokyo’s Emotional Marketplace

The newly released trailer introduces Fraser’s character, a struggling foreign actor in Tokyo who drifts from gig to gig while waiting for his breakthrough. His life takes an unexpected turn when he lands a job with a peculiar company—one that rents out people to play family members for clients in need. “We sell emotions,” the agency’s head tells him, and what follows is a series of emotional encounters where Fraser takes on roles ranging from a caring father to a loving brother and even a devoted husband.

As his character navigates these complex relationships, the film delves into the universal longing for connection, love, and identity, spotlighting Japan’s very real and increasingly common rental family industry.

Directed and co-written by Hikari, known for acclaimed projects like 37 Seconds, Beef, and A Better Tomorrow, Rental Family also features Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto (reuniting with Hikari after 37 Seconds), Shannon Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

The film is set for a theatrical release on November 21, 2025, but will first premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where it is already generating early buzz. With its blend of heart and originality, Rental Family could be one of the year’s most affecting films.