Mark Wahlberg Says His New Movie Is The Most Important Of His Career

Mark Wahlberg has called his new movie Father Stu the 'most important' film of his accomplished career.

While it might be hard to imagine Marky Mark as a priest, the catholic actor is determined to get the biopic of Father Stuart Long just right.

Backing the film with his own funds, Wahlberg explained why it might just be the most important of his career.

In an interview with Today, Wahlberg said: "I was at a pivotal time in myself, in my own spiritual journey, and it's certainly the most important film I have ever done.

"Obviously, it's the greatest role that I ever got to play. It's the first time I really had to go the extra mile to get a movie made. I've had many turning points, eye-opening experiences, things that I've learned that have just kind of touched me and helped me get to the position that I'm in now," he continued.

Alamy/Sony Pictures

Father Stu is based on the real-life story of Father Stuart Long, a boxer who became a priest after an injury ended his career.

A catholic himself, Wahlberg noted how he wanted to 'use the platform that I have now to give back and start to do service.'

He explained: "And so, getting Stu's word out there, continuing to promote his message, and just encouraging people to focus more on their faith and have hope. I certainly wasn't put in this position for nothing. I just got to do more."

It's not a project Wahlberg took on lightly, as the actor reportedly spent a long time combing through failed scripts before the film was made with writer and director Rosalind Ross, according to the Christian Post.

Alamy/Sony Pictures

However, once Wahlberg found the right script the film came together in no time at all, with a quick 30-day filming period during the pandemic last year.

While everything was starting to come together, Walhberg was still worried how the 'most important' film of his career would go down among seniors at the catholic church, Christian Today reports.

He had nothing to fear though, as the actor showed a preview of the film to the archbishop and other priests, to glowing reviews.

"They watched the movie, sat there in silence, in tears, took about 10 minutes to kind of recover, compose themselves. They talked about it, and he wrote the most glowing review for the movie," he said.

Father Stu is set to hit cinemas on 13 May 2022.