Mark Wahlberg shared his reasons for likely never playing a Marvel character during a recent interview. The 54-year-old actor, whose new film Play Dirty will be released on Prime Video on October 1, 2025, also spoke about a DC superhero role he was once considered for but is relieved he did not take on. Wahlberg’s remarks offer insight into his views on superhero movies, including his reluctance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe despite his successful career in action films.
Wahlberg’s Admission About Wearing a Superhero Costume
At the premiere of Play Dirty, Wahlberg talked with Entertainment Tonight about superhero roles and revealed that Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s production company, Team Downey, produced the film. Wahlberg mentioned that Downey Jr. was originally supposed to play Wahlberg’s character Parker before joining Marvel’s Iron Man series.
When questioned if Downey Jr. could persuade him to join Marvel, Wahlberg replied,
I don’t know if I have the confidence to walk out of my trailer in one of those costumes.
He further explained his perspective on superhero films by saying,
I have seen many that I love, Iron Man being my favorite. I think that was really the epitome of quality superhero films. But I just never really had the opportunity, so I never had to make any decision on whether I would or not. But I hadn’t really pursued anything in that genre either.
Near Casting as Robin and Career Highlights
Wahlberg also reflected on his past involvement with DC, revealing he was once in talks to play Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, in the film Batman & Robin. Ultimately, Chris O’Donnell was cast in the role, and Wahlberg expressed relief that he did not take it. Over his long career, Wahlberg has built a diverse filmography with roles in movies such as The Basketball Diaries (1995), Fear (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), The Italian Job (2003), The Departed (2006), The Fighter (2010), and the two Transformers films released in 2014 and 2017.
Although Transformers: Age of Extinction and Transformers: The Last Knight are not superhero films, they share many genre elements with superhero movies, marking the closest Wahlberg has come to that type of role so far in his career.
Implications of Wahlberg’s Stance on Superhero Roles
Mark Wahlberg’s hesitance to enter the Marvel universe highlights the personal challenges actors may face with superhero franchises, including concerns about the demands and image associated with wearing superhero costumes. Despite his appreciation for superhero films like Iron Man, Wahlberg’s decision not to pursue these roles suggests he prefers to focus on projects aligned with his confidence and career interests. This stance may influence the types of characters he chooses in the future and keeps the door open for unique storytelling opportunities outside the blockbuster superhero genre.
