7 Iconic Film Roles Mark Wahlberg Walked Away From

Mark Wahlberg’s journey from pop music to the silver screen has been nothing short of remarkable. With a string of box office hits to his name, he’s become a fixture in both cinemas and on streaming platforms. Yet, his path might have looked quite different had he accepted some of the roles he was once considered for. Here’s a look at seven significant parts Wahlberg declined, each of which could have altered the course of his career.

Superheroes, Heists, and Missed Blockbusters

When Joel Schumacher took the reins of the Batman franchise, he made sweeping changes to the cast. Chris O’Donnell ultimately donned the Robin suit in ‘Batman Forever’, but Wahlberg was in discussions to play Dick Grayson. He clarified that he never received a formal offer or tried on the costume, and later admitted he was rather relieved not to have been cast.

No, we met. We met quite a few times. We talked about it [but] I never got the official offer.

He later remarked,

I was a fan of Joel’s and his other works, but I wasn’t really interested in that type of project.

Despite the film’s mixed reception, it remains a notable entry in the Batman canon.

Wahlberg was also approached for the role of Jim Street in the action-packed ‘S.W.A.T.’, a part that eventually went to Colin Farrell. He turned down this opportunity, as well as a role in ‘The Black Dahlia’, in favour of starring in ‘The Italian Job’. ‘S.W.A.T.’ went on to gross over $200 million worldwide, proving a commercial success.

Franchise Opportunities and Cult Classics

Rob Cohen’s ‘The Fast and the Furious’ considered several actors for the role of Brian O’Conner, including Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Eminem. Ultimately, Paul Walker’s chemistry with Vin Diesel defined the franchise. Wahlberg, fresh off ‘Boogie Nights’, was a strong contender but had already committed to other projects, notably Tim Burton’s ‘Planet of the Apes’. His Bostonian persona may not have meshed with the Los Angeles street-racing scene, but the door remains open for a future appearance.

In Richard Kelly’s ‘Donnie Darko’, Wahlberg was among those considered for the troubled lead. The director recalled,

We originally had Jason Schwartzman as Donnie, but he had other commitments. We met with Vince Vaughn four times, but he wasn’t comfortable playing 16. Mark Wahlberg was in the running, too. But Jake Gyllenhaal had just starred in October Sky and carried the whole movie. Though not a household name, he clearly had talent.

Wahlberg reportedly wanted to play Donnie with a lisp, a creative choice that didn’t align with the director’s vision. The role ultimately went to Gyllenhaal, who became synonymous with the film’s cult status.

Science Fiction, Star Power, and Unconventional Scripts

Wahlberg has expressed regret over declining a part in J.J. Abrams’s 2009 ‘Star Trek’ reboot. He was set to play George Samuel Kirk Sr., Captain Kirk’s father, but found the script’s technical jargon daunting.

I tried to read the script, but I couldn’t understand the words or dialogue or anything, and I said, I couldn’t do this. Then I saw the movie. I went, ‘Holy sh*t, [Abrams] did a great job.’

The role went to Chris Hemsworth, and the film received critical acclaim and several awards.

In 2001, Wahlberg was offered the part of Linus Caldwell in ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, but prior commitments to ‘Planet of the Apes’ and ‘The Truth About Charlie’ meant he had to decline. He reflected,

I was asked to do the movie, and what happened was, we asked if they would wait for me. But I had already committed to working with Tim Burton [for Planet of the Apes] and Jonathan Demme [for The Truth About Charlie], and for me, even though those movies did not turn out to be good, those experiences were great. And you know what? At that point, I was still really trying to grow as an actor.

Matt Damon took on the role, appearing in all three films of the series.

Groundbreaking Drama and Uncomfortable Choices

Wahlberg also turned down the role of Jack Twist in Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’, a film that broke new ground for LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood. He explained his decision in a 2007 interview,

I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out. It was very graphic, descriptive–the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, ‘I like you, you’re a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more.’ Thankfully, he didn’t.

The part went to Jake Gyllenhaal, who won a BAFTA for his performance. Director Gus Van Sant also struggled to cast the film, noting,

Nobody wanted to do it. I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a famous cast. I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ went on to win three Academy Awards and remains a landmark in cinematic history.

Wahlberg’s choices have certainly shaped his career, for better or worse, and left audiences to wonder what might have been had he taken a different path.