Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson Could Star In Michael Bay's Pain And Gain

Variety reports that Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson could star in Michael Bay's dark comedy action thriller Pain And Gain. The film is about the real-life extortion ring and a kidnapping plot that goes horribly awry in the Miami area, hatched by a couple of Floridian bodybuilders. It's been compared to Fargo and it's budget is aimed at around $20 million which is small for Bay.

Adam McKay Teases Cast For Farrell/Wahlberg Comedy Three Mississippi

EW talked to writer/director Adam McKay (Anchor Man, Step Brothers, Other Guys) about his next comedy project which stars Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg. The Thanksgiving themed comedy would see the two actors the heads of two competing families who have a tradition of playing a holiday game of football. Wahlberg's character's father played by Alec Baldwin becomes ill and tries to get his estranged son to gather up the rest of the oddball family to win the next game. As their family has a terrible record of losing against Farrell's brood. Jeremy Renner is being looked at for the role of an ex-con family member. While Rob Riggle could be playing a gay cousin who has experience playing college football. The filmed titled Three Mississippi seems interesting enough with a solid cast but McKay has yet to confirm if he'll be directing.

David O'Russell Ditches Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

ShowBlitz has news that David O'Russell (The Fighter, Three Kings) has exited Sony's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. David was set to write and direct the video game adaptation which he had Mark Wahlberg, Scarlett Johansson, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in mind for the leads. It's unknown if O'Russell's script will end up being used or if the film will still move forward. Currently O'Russell had mentioned many other films in the works that included Cocaine Cowboys and a sequel to The Fighter.

Bradley Cooper In Talks For The Crow

HeatVision reports that Bradley Cooper is in early talks to take the role of Eric Draven in The Crow remake. The say that Cooper met with recently announced director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) in Spain about the film. Previously Mark Wahlberg had been linked for the role but it doesn't look like that will be happening.

Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Will Direct Crow Remake

Deadline is reporting that 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has been hired to helm the invention of cult comic book film The Crow. Mark Wahlberg has been linked for the lead but has said he has yet to read a script.

David O'Russell Might Direct Cocaine Cowboys

ThePlaylist reports that David O'Russell (Fighter, Uncharted) could end up directing the long in development film Cocaine Cowboys. Mark Wahlberg has been producing the project for years and could star.  Leonardo DiCaprio was previously rumored to be involved with the project but nothing was confirmed. I'd love to see DiCaprio and Wahlberg in the leads.

The true life story inspired both Miami Vice and Scarface. "In the 1980s, ruthless Colombian cocaine barons invaded Miami with a brand of violence unseen in this country since Prohibition-era Chicago - and it put the city on the map. "Cocaine Cowboys" is the true story of how Miami became the drug, murder and cash capital of the United States, told by the people who made it all happen." The film will focus on the infamous American drug trafficers Jon Roberts and Micky Munday. Peter Berg (Hancock) had been attached previously to direct but has focused on Battleship instead.

David O'Russell Wants Scarlett Johansson For Uncharted

During an interview with Empire the Oscar nominated director was asked about his upcoming action film Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. While Empire suggested Amy Adams, David mentioned Scarlett Johansson for the role of journalist Elena. It seems like a perfect fit as Johansson is going to gather a lot of heat from her role in Avengers . She was also expected to star in Pride & Prejudice & Zombies when O'Russell was on board to direct.

Mark Wahlberg is set to play Drake while Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are still mentioned for having roles in the film.

Foster, Ribisi, Luna & Haas Join Wahlberg & Beckinsale In Contraband

A remake of the 2008 Icelandic film Reykjavik-Rotterdam, Contraband stars Mark Wahlberg and Kate Beckinsale. ThePlaylist reports that Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Diego Luna (Terminal, Milk), Lukas Haas (Inception, Brick) and Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men First Class) have joined the production. It centers on a security guard with financial troubles considers a return to his smuggling ways when an associate offers a potentially lucrative opportunity. The release date has been set for March 16th 2012 which can't come soon enough.

Mila Kunis In Talks To Join Mark Wahlberg In Ted

HeatVision reports that Mila Kunis is negotiations to play Mark Wahlberg's girlfriend in the Seth McFarlane comedy Ted. The film focuses on a man who as young boy wishes his teddy bear would come alive. Twenty-five years later the bear has evolved into a pot smoking slacker and is holding him back. Seth McFarlane who wrote the film will play the bear Ted and also direct. Kunis is a regular on Family Guy playing Meg and previously worked with Wahlberg on the disastrous video game film Max Payne.

Mark Wahlberg Confirmed For Uncharted, De Niro & Pesci Offered Roles

Mark Wahlberg has confirmed to MTV during an interview that he has been cast in David O'Russell's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The actor nd writer/director just worked together on The Fighter which is already gathering Oscar buzz for the two along with Christian Bale who co-stars. I had Wahlberg pegged for the role as soon as O'Russell came on board to direct. I'd like to think we'll be getting a more Three Kings type of action romp from the director. Let's hope the curse of video game films will be lifted with this decent sounding one. It's expected the films could spawn into trilogy if the first one is a successful enough.


Wahlberg also confirmed previous rumors of roles being offered to Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. While they haven't signed on the roles are being written just for them. De Niro would play Drake's father and Pesci his uncle. It would be amazing to see the two work together again since the last time was Casino.

Beckinsale Joins Wahlberg In Contraband

Kate Beckinsale (Snow Angels, Underworld) has joined Mark Wahlberg in the remake of Icelandic film Reykjavik-Rotterdam now titled Contraband. While I'm looking forward to remakes of foreign films like Dragon Tattoo and Let Me In others like the odd looking Tourist worry me about the trend. I'll hold off my opinion on this project until the trailer is released.