Mark Wahlberg Reveals Why ‘Father Stu’ Is His Most Important Film To Date

MARK Wahlberg, the star of the upcoming biographical drama Father Stu, reveals why he thinks it’s the most important film of his career to date.

Helmed by first-time director Rosalind Ross, Father Stu follows the real-life story of Father Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired myriad people in his journey from self-destruction to redemption. All the while, he was suffering from a degenerative muscle disease called inclusion body myositis.

Alongside Wahlberg, who plays the role of the protagonist, the film features a supporting cast that includes the likes of veteran actors Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook) and Mel Gibson (Braveheart, Mad Max), who play Stuart’s parents. Teresa Ruiz, Nico Nicotera, Annie Lee, and Cody Fern also feature in the film.

Father Stu marks Wahlberg’s first feature role since February’s adventure blockbuster Uncharted, which saw him star alongside Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s Tom Holland.

In his interview with TODAY, he explains that he made the movie at a time when he was pursuing his own “spiritual journey” and calls it the “greatest” role he has ever done.

According to the actor, “I was at a pivotal time in myself, in my own spiritual journey, and it’s certainly the most important film I have ever done. Obviously, it’s the greatest role that I ever got to play. It’s the first time I really had to go the extra mile to get a movie made.

“I’ve had many turning points, eye-opening experiences, things that I’ve learned that have just kind of touched me and helped me get to the position that I’m in now. It was like, okay, how do I use the platform that I have now to give back and start to do service. And so, getting Stu’s word out there, continuing to promote his message, and just encouraging people to focus more on their faith and have hope. I certainly wasn’t put in this position for nothing. I just got to do more.

Producing Father Stu was no easy task for the Oscar-nominated actor, as he eventually had to put his own money into the project. This, along with the fact that Wahlberg gained 30lbs for the role, is proof of his commitment to the project. Being a lifelong devoted Catholic himself, it’s clear that Wahlberg drew parallels between his faith journey and Long’s, using his own experiences to help prepare for the part and send an important message to people going through similar struggles.

Wahlberg established himself as an actor early in his career after breakthrough appearances in The Basketball Diaries alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s 1997 film Boogie Nights.

While he has leaned more towards action-packed roles of late (Uncharted, Spenser Confidential), he has portrayed multiple true-life figures over the years in acclaimed films such as 2010’s boxing drama The Fighter, 2013’s Lone Survivor, and 2016’s Deepwater Horizon, to mention a few.

Father Stu, however, clearly stands out as a passion project for the actor, and as the movie’s financier, Wahlberg is surely hoping that passion shines through when the movie hits theaters. (source: screenrant.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)