Mark Wahlberg's Transition to Producing: A Move Driven by Necessity.
In an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine, Mark Wahlberg recently opened up about his shift towards producing. The actor revealed that this transition was born from realizing he would consistently play second fiddle to established mega-stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt. This awareness prompted Wahlberg to take matters into his own hands, ensuring he wouldn't have to wait for these A-listers to pass on roles before he could seize them. This shift began around the time of “The Fighter” in 2010, leading Wahlberg to assume the role of producer or executive producer on most of his major projects.
“I started becoming a producer out of necessity,” Wahlberg explained. “I didn't want to sit around waiting for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or whoever was already established before me and were the guys at the time, and Leo [DiCaprio], to go and pass on a movie until I could get my hands on it. I was always proactive in trying to find material and things that I could produce, that I knew was right for me, create my destiny.”
Having amassed producing and acting credits, Wahlberg now looks to broaden his horizons by venturing into directing. He expressed interest in collaborating with other notable talents, particularly those emerging in the industry. Anticipating a potential slowdown in his acting career after a prolific period of numerous film releases, Wahlberg shared, “Well, I'm certainly working harder now than ever. For certain businesses, you build them, pass them on, or exit. Hopefully, my kids will see their interests, but I don't think I'll be acting that much longer at my current pace. That's for sure. Because that's the most difficult thing.”
While Wahlberg did not grace the silver screen this year, 2022 saw a flurry of activity with projects like “Uncharted,” “Me Time,” and “Father Stu.” His forthcoming endeavors include the Apple original film “The Family Plan,” featuring Michelle Monaghan, and the action-packed “Our Man From Jersey,” in which he stars alongside Halle Berry.
