Mark Wahlberg shared a new clip on Instagram on Thursday, August 6, from his latest film, the historical crime thriller “By Any Means.” In the upcoming film, the actor plays mafia hitman Gregory Scarpa and has completely transformed himself for the role. He looks almost unrecognizable!
Mark Wahlberg’s Fans React to His New Role
Wahlberg’s transformation is noticeable, and he wears a false nose, People reports. The former rapper’s hair is also styled into a side parting. In the caption on Instagram, Wahlberg wrote, “The system was broken, so the FBI hired the mob to solve a murder by any means. See @ByAnyMeansMovie only in theatres September 4. #ByAnyMeansMovie.”
“Damn looking like he got stung by a bee in the nose,” a comment reads of Wahlberg’s dramatic appearance change. “Mark! What did they do to you?” another person wrote. Other reactions include, “Is that Mark … unbelievable,” “I love you always transform…,” “No way Mark!,” and “that’s why you got a perm.”
Directed by Elegance Bratton, the film stars Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who plays the role of FBI agent Wayne Strider. “A notorious mafia hitman and a young Black FBI agent team up to investigate the murders of civil rights leaders in 1966 Mississippi,” the synopsis for the film reads, per IMDb.
The clip shows Wahlberg and Abdul-Mateen II working together in an unlikely partnership. The trailer says it is “based on a true story.”
All About Mark Wahlberg & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Film
There is already a lot of hype surrounding the film, and Wahlberg discussed this in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in June. He recalled the reaction to a test screening, saying, “It was crazy. The response in the theater is really like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
Wahlberg revealed that the film is a great watch, providing viewers with “so much wish fulfillment.” He continued, “This is going to be one of the great revenge thrillers in quite a long time.”
The reactions to the trailer Wahlberg posted on August 6 have also reflected the level of fan enthusiasm. Mario Lopez responded with fire emojis, Mark Brucato shared three clapping hands emojis, and musician David Kushner wrote, “Let’s go Mark.”
Other reactions include, “Most consistent man in show business,” “It’s @markwahlberg it’ll be great like all the other ones,” and “Absolutely amazing.”
The full-length trailer was shared on YouTube two months ago and has been viewed over 18 million times.
Mark Wahlberg’s Dramatic Appearance Change for New Role
Scarpa died in 1994, but his son, Gregory Scarpa Jr., was reportedly surprised by how much Wahlberg looked like him. “He goes to Mark, ‘Hey, dad,’ ’cause he thought Mark looked so much like his dad,” Bratton recalled.
Both Scarpa Jr. and his sister, Linda Scarpa, were advisors on the film, Entertainment Weekly reports. Discovering more about Scarpa, including his role as a father and husband, helped Wahlberg better understand who he was beyond being a mob hitman. “He lived in this underworld, and he kind of had to play by those rules, but he was still a father and a husband,” Wahlberg said. “I think that was the kind of thing that made me feel more comfortable.”
