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Getting a film off the ground is not an easy job, and each year, there are numerous films that end up going down the bin before they can even be considered. Given the high-stakes world of Hollywood, it is a gamble to be part of films and projects that one has no idea about how it would fare with the audience.
Mark Wahlberg too had a similar experience with one of his passion projects, where he had to take a giant leap of faith to invest millions of his own money in a film that was later torn to shreds by the film critics. And it was Mel Gibson, his co-star, who encouraged him to do so, which ultimately did turn out to be a good thing.
When Mark Wahlberg invested millions of his own money in a passion project destroyed by critics
Being an actor is no easy job for it deals with several challenges. One of these significant challenges is pleasing the critics, an act that can literally make or break an actor’s career. However,Mark Wahlberggot the raw end of the deal when it came to his one passion project:Father Stu.
A biographical drama film starring Wahlberg as a boxer-turned-Catholic priest, Stuart Long, the film was made against a budget of $4 million (viaThe Numbers) and received some of the worst critical reviews. What made it even worse was that much of the money came from the pocket of Wahlberg since the film would not have been made if it failed to secure financing.
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In an interview with theBusiness Insider, the actor stated:
Let’s just say I put millions and millions of dollars into the film — and then incurring other costs because we went over schedule in production, and there are clearances for the music.
Moreover, he sought help from some of his friends as well who believed in the project. Since seeking financing comes with its own sets of challenges, including creative ones, the actor thought it was better for him to step up and have complete control over a film he was dead serious to get making.
Mark Wahlberg was inspired by Mel Gibson to invest his own money inFather Stu
Mark Wahlberg was struggling to getFather Stumade since several people he had reached out to for help did not like how the script was depressing. Moreover, the film was to be directed by a first-time filmmaker, Rosalind Ross, which was a gambit not everyone was willing to make.
Despite being a producer for a long time, Wahlberg ultimately decided to put his own money in after being inspired by his co-star,Mel Gibson. Gibson and his company Icon Production famously spent more than $45 million to fundhis passion project,The Passion of the Christ, a film that famously drew widespread criticism from critics and certain groups despite being a huge financial success (viaPassion of the ChristDVD special feature andIndependent).
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Thus, inspired by Gibson and his huge financial gamble that is in no way comparable to the budget ofFather Stu, Wahlberg decided to invest his own millions of worth of dollars in the film. While the film was brutally destroyed by the critics, scoring only 40% onRotten Tomatoes, it was a success among fans.Father Stugot a 95% audience rating on RT while grossing more than $21.9 million worldwide (via The Numbers), making the risk worth it.
Father Stuis available to be streamed on Hulu.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
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Father StuMark WahlbergMel Gibson
