"[Halle] Giving Me S---": Mark Wahlberg Was Uncomfortable Filming Some Action Scenes In Netflix's Spy Movie (2024)

Mark Wahlberg reveals his reaction to some of the filming for The Union. Released on Netflix this summer, the film tells the story of a working-class man named Mike whose life gets turned upside down when a surprise meetup with his ex-girlfriend Roxanne ends up sweeping him into the world of international spies. Directed by Julian Farino, The Union's cast includes Halle Berry playing opposite Wahlberg, with a supporting cast that includes J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Alice Lee, Jessica De Gouw, and Jackie Early Haley.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Wahlberg expressed his discomfort filming some scenes for The Union. The scenes in question were a rooftop fight scene and the scene wherein Wahlberg is in the trunk. For the former, Wahlberg explains that he was "a little queasy" being that high up, but he pulled through and committed to "doing a little bit more [himself]" instead of relying on doubles. The actor was not anymore in favor of the trunk scene, which he described as "very uncomfortable" and "cramped." Check out the full explanation from Wahlberg and Farino below:

Farino: Yes, I wanted to do something on the rooftops because it was very visual, and you could see the sea, and you could imagine good chase things happening there.

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Wahlberg: Oh, I didn't like it all. I never really was bothered by heights. I don't know, I felt a little queasy. All the jumping, running, and all that stuff, but we certainly had fun. And [Halle] giving me s--- the whole time keeps me a little more motivated and committed to doing a little bit more myself as opposed to letting the doubles jump in there.

Farino: The specific sequence where they fall down the side of the roof that ends up with a bit of gunplay was based around seeing them at the peak of dependence on each other. I wanted to feel them coming together and having each other's backs. Mark went up on the high balance of the rooftop, and Halle has an amazing ability to learn choreography of fights very, very quickly.

Farino: It was Joe Barton's, the writer, idea to get Mark in the boot of the car because that enabled us to have banter. For me, one of the great character moments I loved in the script and I liked doing it was we had this massive chase and he finally kicks the other guy out of the car and rather than just keep on driving, he takes a moment of comic vengeance shall we say when he boots the guy.

Wahlberg: We want to try to infuse as much comedy as possible along the way. That humor is something I could relate to and I know Halle could as well. We trying to play that up as much as possible, but [the trunk] was not fun at all to shoot. Very uncomfortable. I'm old, cramped and a grumpy old man.

How Was The Union Received Upon Its Release?

The Union Got Bad Reviews

Unfortunately for Wahlberg, his elaborate stunt work for the action film did not entirely pay off. The Union's reviews were fairly universally negative, garnering a rotten Tomatometer of 43%. Among audiences, the film fared even worse, getting a 28%. The detractors bemoaned the poor quality of The Union's script, noting how ridiculous the plot concept itself is, as it would not seem that a spy agency would want to contract average people to do work for them. Others called the film contrived and predictable, featuring characters who lacked distinct personalities.

Given these reviews, it is probably a good thing that The Union did not get theatrical play. Its lackluster reception may have been a death knoll for the movie at the box office, likening it to something like the 2024 spy flop Argylle. Its streaming status likely spared it this embarrassment, especially given its August 16 release date would have seen the film compete with the well-received Alien: Romulus as well as the ongoingly successful Deadpool & Wolverine.

Though The Union will not get a box office ranking, time will tell how it ends up doing on streaming. The flipside of Wahlberg's discomfort-inducing stunts is the fact that this means the film is action-packed, making it more likely to appeal to audiences. The Union's release comes right at the end of the range in which Netflix counts their weekly views, so it may be at a slight disadvantage when the global top 10 is revealed tomorrow. Over time, though, The Union could find viewership success even when its critical reviews were lacking.

Source: EW

The Union (2024)

2.5

PG-13

Action

Thriller

The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.

Director

Julian Farino

Release Date

August 16, 2024

Studio(s)

Leverage Entertainment , Municipal Pictures , Closest to the Hole Productions

Writers

David Guggenheim , Joe Barton

Cast

Mark Wahlberg , Halle Berry , J.K. Simmons , Jackie Earle Haley , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Runtime

109 Minutes

Main Genre

Action