FATHER STU’s Mark Wahlberg: ‘People Need to Have Faith And Hope’
By Movieguide® Contributor
In a recent interview with Fox News, Mark Wahlberg reflected on his life, faith and upcoming biopic, FATHER STU.
“Probably the most unpredictable movie ever,” Wahlberg said of the upcoming theatrical release based on the life story of boxer-turned-priest Father Stuart Long. The movie is the directorial debut for Rosalind Ross and stars Mel Gibson alongside Wahlberg.
Wahlberg is candid about his Christian faith, a theme that drove the real-life Father Stu.
Wahlberg said that people need movies that champion faith and hope in today’s era of uncertainty.
“It’s just about finding the right story to tell at the right time. You know, these movies are not easy to get made,” he said.
“God has continued to bless me and put me in this situation not to continue to grow and work on Mark Wahlberg the person, but to do His work and finally, giving me the skills and tools to go out and articulate the message He wants me to articulate,” he added.
Read More: Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson’s Faith-Filled Biopic Lands at Sony
Wahlberg said that Father Stu reminds people that with faith in God, there is always hope.
“It’s about not giving up,” Wahlberg said of a pivotal scene where Father Stu speaks to prisoners. “Stu speaks their language. ‘God is not going to give up on you. Don’t you dare go and give up on yourselves.’ He’s challenging them to turn their lives around. It’s never too late. As long as you’re breathing you have an opportunity to redeem yourself.”
The LONE SURVIVOR actor hopes that the movie will encourage young men to trust God and pursue what He calls them to do in their life.
“People need to have faith and hope. Young men need to know what it’s like to be a real man. And you could list a million reasons – just turn on the news, anywhere you look there are reasons for encouraging people to have faith and to have hope,” Wahlberg said. “I didn’t know we’d be releasing this movie in a pandemic; I just knew that I needed to make this movie, that this was my calling, this was my mission and now it’s needed more than ever. Hopefully it will help a lot of people.”
Movieguide® has yet to review FATHER STU, which premieres on Good Friday, April 15.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +4