Mark Wahlberg’s career has been a whirlwind of diverse roles, featuring standout performances in films like Boogie Nights, The Departed, and The Fighter. From leading roles in blockbuster franchises such as Planet of the Apes and Transformers: Age of Extinction, to his involvement in the Uncharted film, Wahlberg’s filmography showcases his range. Despite this impressive roster, there’s one genre where Wahlberg has notably stayed away: superhero movies.
While Wahlberg hasn’t suited up as a caped crusader, he did lend his voice to The Blue Falcon in the 2020 animated film Scoob!. Aside from this voice role, Wahlberg has largely avoided comic book characters—a choice he seems to have made intentionally.
However, there’s one superhero project he’s been passionate about: his take on The Six Billion Dollar Man. This film is a reboot of the classic TV series The Six Million Dollar Man, which originally starred Lee Majors. Wahlberg has been developing this project for over seven years. It was first announced in 2017, but has faced numerous delays, leaving fans and Wahlberg himself waiting.
In a recent interview with Comic Book, while promoting his film The Union, Wahlberg was asked if his co-star, Halle Berry, had ever discussed making a superhero film with him. Wahlberg turned the conversation to The Six Billion Dollar Man, expressing his excitement about the project. He explained, “I have one superhero movie in mind, and it’s The Six Billion Dollar Man, formerly known as The Six Million Dollar Man—now updated due to inflation. It’s grounded and realistic, with lots of bionics technology and science, which makes it feel like a plausible superhero story.”
Wahlberg also mentioned that he’s not comfortable with traditional superhero costumes, which has been a factor in his avoidance of superhero roles. Despite Halle Berry’s confidence that he would look great in a superhero suit, Wahlberg admitted he lacks the “mental confidence” to wear one.
This reluctance is understandable, as many actors find the physical demands of superhero roles—like spandex suits, motion-capture gear, and green screens—challenging. Wahlberg’s commitment to The Six Billion Dollar Man underscores his preference for a more realistic take on the superhero genre. He believes that the character’s grounded nature makes it more believable and less silly compared to traditional superhero roles.
Although Wahlberg hasn’t taken on any DC or Marvel superheroes, his dedication to bringing The Six Billion Dollar Man to life shows that he’s not entirely done with the superhero genre. With the evolving landscape of superhero films, there’s always a possibility that Wahlberg could eventually step into a superhero role, but for now, he’s focused on a character that blends superhero fantasy with real-world plausibility.
