Mark Wahlberg will not be taking flight as “The Crow” after all.
During an interview to promote his new film, “The Fighter,” Mark set the record straight on the rumored casting.
“No, we talked about it. I love the director they were talking about using and we’ve had discussions about, but no,” Mark told Access Hollywood of his reported “The Crow” reboot.
In October, Entertainment Weekly had reported the actor was in talks to reprise Brandon Lee’s lead character role, Eric Draven/The Crow, from Alex Proyas’ 1994 comic book cult classic.
Instead, Mark will be teaming with a tandem of very different Hollywood heavyweights for two upcoming projects – Kate Beckinsale and Seth MacFarlane.
“I’m going to do a movie called ‘Contraband’ and then Seth MacFarlane’s directorial debut comedy,” Mark noted.
“Contraband” – an action thriller about a security guard caught in a smuggling job gone bad – will pair Mark with Kate Beckinsale. The film will start shooting in January 2011 and be released in March 2012.
As far as his collaboration with MacFarlane, Mark will team up with the “Family Guy” creator and Mila Kunis for the animated comedy “Ted,” set to start production in Spring 2011.
In the meantime, Mark will be seen on the big screen as real-life boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward in David O. Russell’s “The Fighter,” which hits theaters on December 10.
For Mark, making “The Fighter” – co-starring Christian Bale — wasn’t just taxing physically, as he had to get into boxing shape to take on the role of the unlikely boxing champ, but it’s a project that meant a lot to the star.
“It was probably more about what I didn’t go through to get this movie made. It was just very difficult from beginning to end, but well worth it,” Mark told Access. “There are just so many movies that I’ve done that have come easy and you end up not wanting people to see them because you’re not proud of them and this is a very special movie. I have a special relationship with [the film’s main characters] Mickey and Dickey, they’re family.”
In fact, Mark said he was able to relate to the character’s story.
“There are so many similarities between his life and upbringing and my life. It was just a special project and I’m just so glad we got it done and the fact that people are responding the way that they are really is just an added bonus,” he added.
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