Hurley & Fraser Reunite for Tubi’s Animated Series Breaking Bear

Elizabeth Hurley, a 59‑year‑old British actress and model, stood beside Brendan Fraser, the 55‑year‑old Canadian‑American actor, at New York Comic Con on October 12, 2025. The two confirmed a long‑awaited reunion in Breaking Bear, a new animated series slated for a March 2026 debut on the ad‑supported streaming service Tubi. Hurley beamed, “I adored and continue to adore Brendan. It was a very special time,” while Fraser joked, “We haven’t seen each other in 20 years, and the first thing she says is ‘I get to torture you again!’” The announcement turned an already buzz‑filled convention floor into a flash‑mob of fans clutching smartphones.

Background of the Reunion

Back in 2000, both stars shared the screen in Harold Ramis’s remake of Bedazzled, a comedy that critics panned but which has since become a cult favorite. The film, released by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 13, 2000, paired Fraser’s earnest every‑man with Hurley’s sly, seductive devil. Twenty‑five years later, the pair’s chemistry feels almost nostalgic, a reminder that Hollywood loves a good callback.

Hurley’s New York Comic Con interview, conducted by CBR reporter Grae Drake, was the first public hint that the duo would cross paths again. “Oh, well, I adored and continue to adore Brendan,” Hurley said, visibly thrilled. Fraser’s response was half‑hearted, half‑teasing, reflecting a friendship that endured beyond the set.

What Is "Breaking Bear"?

Breaking Bear is an adult‑oriented animated series that blends dark comedy with social commentary. Produced for Tubi, the show follows three bear siblings—Jer Bear, Blair Bear, and Alistair Bear—who turn to drug dealing to fund a legal battle against fracking companies threatening their forest. The premise sounds outlandish, but the creators promise a gritty look at environmental exploitation, corporate greed, and family dysfunction.

The series marks Fraser’s first major foray back into voice work since his cameo in Kim Possible (2019). For Hurley, it’s a chance to flex her vocal chops as the “menacing Wolf Queen,” a villain who delights in sowing chaos among the bears.

Cast and Characters

In addition to the Hurley‑Fraser duo, the ensemble boasts several familiar voices:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar (47) voices Blair Bear, the sharp‑tongued sister who handles the distribution side of the operation. Gellar and Fraser previously worked together on the ensemble crime drama The Air I Breathe (2007), a bond that revived at the 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival when Gellar presented Fraser with the American Riviera Award.
• Josh Gad (43) lends his comedic timing to Alistair Bear, the youngest sibling whose innocence masks a surprisingly ruthless streak.
• Annie Murphy (38) plays Tawny, a nosy human news anchor who becomes an unlikely ally for the bears.

Each performer brings a distinct flavor, turning what could be a cartoonish premise into a surprisingly layered narrative.

Plot and Themes

The central conflict revolves around the bears’ desperate attempt to halt hydraulic fracturing—commonly known as fracking—by a coalition of corporate oil interests, Russian mafia operatives, and a rogue biker gang. The series doesn’t shy away from gritty details: the bears’ drug operation mirrors real‑world illicit economies that thrive in marginalized regions.

Beyond the action, the show explores familial loyalty. Jer Bear (voiced by Fraser) is the reluctant leader, constantly battling his own conscience. Blair Bear’s strategic mind clashes with Alistair’s impulsive optimism, creating a dynamic that feels like a modern family drama set against an absurd backdrop.

Oddly enough, the writers have inserted a recurring “human news anchor” character who serves as a satire of media sensationalism. It’s a subtle nod to how environmental crises are often reduced to sound‑bites and ratings.

Production and Release Details

Executive producers from the independent studio WildBear Studios teamed up with Tubi’s original content division in early 2024. The animation pipeline utilizes a hybrid of 3D modeling and traditional 2‑D techniques, a choice that keeps the visual style fresh while honoring classic Saturday‑morning aesthetics.

Filming (voice recording) wrapped in March 2025, with post‑production stretching into the summer. According to the show’s creator, Dr. Maya Patel, the March 2026 launch will be accompanied by a targeted social‑media push featuring behind‑the‑scenes clips from Comic Con. Tubi expects the series to draw at least 1.2 million unique viewers in its first month, a modest but solid figure for a free‑ad‑supported platform.

The series also promises merchandising—plush toys, eco‑friendly water bottles, and limited‑edition comic‑style art prints—aimed at both nostalgia‑driven adults and younger audiences discovering the bears for the first time.

Industry Reactions

Critics have been cautiously optimistic. Variety’s Jenelle Riley called the casting “a clever stunt that could pay off if the writing matches the star power.” Meanwhile, animation blog The Animation Guild praised the show’s willingness to tackle “environmental injustice with humor, without watering down the stakes.”

Fans on social platforms flooded the hashtag #BreakingBear with speculation about plot twists, with many hoping the Wolf Queen will turn out to be an anti‑hero rather than pure villain. The buzz has already translated into a modest spike in Tubi’s daily active users, according to the company’s Q3 report released on October 18, 2025.