Mark Wahlberg's Biggest Movie Rejections That Changed Hollywood
The Boston native turned down some of cinema's most iconic roles, from superhero franchises to Oscar winners. These career decisions reshaped not just his path, but entire film legacies.
Throughout his Hollywood journey, Mark Wahlberg has built an impressive resume with hits like Transformers, The Departed, and Ted. But behind his successful career lies a trail of rejected opportunities that could have completely altered the entertainment landscape. From superhero sidekicks to franchise-defining characters, the Boston actor's "no" responses created openings for other stars to shine.
The Superhero Role He's Glad He Missed
When Joel Schumacher took control of the Batman series, Wahlberg found himself in discussions for the Robin role in Batman Forever. During a podcast appearance, he revealed multiple meetings about playing Dick Grayson, though no official offer materialized. "No, we met. We met quite a few times. We talked about it [but] I never got the official offer," he explained. The actor admitted feeling relieved about missing out, telling another interviewer he wasn't interested in that type of project despite respecting Schumacher's other work.
Chris O'Donnell ultimately landed the part, and the film became a commercial success despite mixed reviews. Wahlberg has yet to enter any major superhero universe.
Action Franchises and Missed Connections
The S.W.A.T. opportunity presented another action-packed possibility. Wahlberg was considered for Jim Street's role, which Colin Farrell eventually claimed. Instead, he chose The Italian Job over both S.W.A.T. and Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia. The film earned over $200 million worldwide, suggesting his presence might have elevated it further.
Even more significant was his consideration for Brian O'Conner in The Fast and the Furious. CBS reported that Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Eminem were all in the running before Paul Walker secured the role. Wahlberg's prior commitments, including Planet of the Apes, prevented his involvement. His Boston persona likely wouldn't have meshed with the Los Angeles street racing culture that defined the franchise.
Cult Classics and Sci-Fi Regrets
Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko represents one of Wahlberg's more unusual rejections. The Guardian revealed that after Jason Schwartzman's departure, several actors were considered, including Wahlberg and Vince Vaughn. MTV reported that Wahlberg wanted to play Donnie with a lisp, which didn't align with Kelly's vision. Jake Gyllenhaal's eventual casting proved perfect for the film's cult status.
Wahlberg's Star Trek rejection became a source of genuine regret. He was offered George Samuel Kirk Sr.'s role in J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot but declined because he couldn't understand the technical dialogue. "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,'" he admitted. Chris Hemsworth took the part, and Wahlberg vowed never to reject another Abrams sci-fi project.
Ensemble Pieces and Oscar Contenders
Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven offered Wahlberg a chance to join an elite ensemble cast. The Linus Caldwell role would have paired him with George Clooney and Brad Pitt across three films. However, his commitments to Tim Burton and Jonathan Demme took priority. "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]," he explained. Matt Damon ultimately filled the pickpocket role.
Perhaps most notably, Wahlberg was approached for Brokeback Mountain's Jack Twist character. He admitted being "creeped out" after reading the script's first 15 pages, particularly the graphic content. "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," he shared. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance in the role earned him a BAFTA, while the film collected three Oscars. Wahlberg later clarified that Lee never formally offered him the part.