Mark Wahlberg Kept Waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt to Pass on Roles ‘So I Could Get My Hands on It,’ Became a Producer ‘Out of Necessity’

Mark Wahlberg said in an interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine that one of the reasons he pivoted to producing was because it became clear in his acting work that hed always be taking a backseat to fellow mega-stars like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. Starting around The Fighter in 2010, Wahlberg became a producer or an executive producer on nearly all of his major releases.

I started becoming a producer out of necessity, Wahlberg said. I didnt want to sit around waiting for Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or whoever was already established before me and were the guys at the time, and Leo [DiCaprio], to go and pass on a movie until I could get my hands on it. I was always proactive in trying to find material and things that I could produce, that I knew was right for me, create my own destiny.

Wahlberg added that with producing and acting credits under his belt, what he wants to do next is try his hand at directing and working with some of the other great talents. Working with the next batch of great talent. He noted that the future of his career will probably include an acting slow down after several years in which hes had multiple new films release.

Well Im certainly working harder now than ever, he said. Certain businesses, you kind of build them, pass them on or you exit. Hopefully my kids, well see what their interests are, but I dont think that Ill be acting that much longer at the pace I am now. Thats for sure. Because thats the most difficult thing.

Wahlberg hasnt appeared in a movie this year, but he had a busy 2022 with films such as Uncharted, Me Time and Father Stu. His upcoming releases include the Apple original film The Family Plan, co-starring Michelle Monaghan, and the action film Our Man From Jersey, co-starring Halle Berry.