Summary
Mark Wahlberg’supcoming heist moviePlay Dirtycan finally spark the franchise he should have had over two decades ago. Apart from his roles in twoTransformersmovies and the celebratedTedmovies, Wahlberg has not signed on to many franchise projects throughout his career. His counterparts such as Matt Damon, Jason Statham, and Keanu Reeves all have dedicated franchises in addition to their other notable works, butWahlberg has yet to solidify himself as the true face of any one franchise.
Wahlberg is set to star inPlay Dirty, a highly anticipated heist movie by acclaimed director Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,The Nice Guys). Wahlberg stars as a professional thief named Parker who takes on an international heist that involves a South American dictator, the New York mob, and the world’s richest man.Play Dirtyis based onThe Hunter, a 1962 crime thriller novel written by Donald E. Westlakeunder the pseudonym Richard Stark.Play Dirtywill also star LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar, Dermot Mulroney, Tony Shalhoub, Keegan-Michael Key, and Nat Wolff.
Play Dirty Could Give Mark Wahlberg A Heist Franchise After Italian Job Didn’t
Parker is the protagonist of several other crime thriller novels written by Stark
Whalberg has expressed huge interestin the potential ofPlay Dirty. He recently toldCollider, “For me, it’s like “The Italian Job” meets “Heat.” It’s got the action, it’s got the high stakes, it’s got the humor, it’s got these great characters, the best Shane Black dialogue. I waited a long time to get a script like that.” What’s more, the main character,Parker, is the protagonist of several other novels written by Starkthat could be used as the basis for future movies ifPlay Dirtyis a success.
Parker has already been portrayed in several films by a handful of movie stars, such as Lee Marvin (Point Blank), Jim Brown (The Split), Robert Duvall (The Outfit), Peter Coyote (Slayground), Mel Gibson (Payback), and Jason Statham (Parker). IfPlay Dirtyturns out to be one ofWahlberg’s best upcoming movies, it could spark the heist franchise thatThe Italian Jobwas unable to make happen. While a sequel to 2003’sThe Italian Jobwas speculated, it never ended up coming to fruition.
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Mark Wahlberg’s Play Dirty Holds A Strong Italian Job Connection Already
Wahlberg has a real shot at making the familiar franchise character his own
Wahlberg is due for a return to form after a slate of negatively reviewed movies such asSpenser Confidential,Me Time, andThe Union.
Wahlberg will play Parker, the same character hisItalian Jobco-star Jason Statham played years later in the 2013 movieParker. Statham’sParkermovie was a critical and commercial misfire, earning a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 41% and a worldwide box office total of just $46.9 million against a production budget of $35 million. Wahlberg has a real shot at making the familiar franchise character his own withPlay Dirty, which began filming in March 2024 and is expected to be released in 2025. He is due for a return to form after a slate of negatively reviewed movies such asSpenser Confidential,Me Time, andThe Union.
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Play Dirty
Cast
Play Dirty is a film adaptation centered on Parker, a professional thief character created by Donald E. Westlake. The movie intricately explores Parker’s criminal pursuits, drawing from Westlake’s renowned literary creation.
