GIBSON & WAHLBERG AS FATHER AND SON IN “DADDY'S HOME 2”

Press release

GIBSON & WAHLBERG: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON IN “DADDY'S HOME 2”

Mel Gibson plays Kurt, the alpha male father of Mark Wahlberg's character, in Paramount Pictures’ comedy sequel, Daddy’s Home 2 (in Philippine cinemas November 29.)

Photo credit: UIP

(Watch the TV spot `Grand-Dads Are Coming at http://youtu.be/j4dMnAPZu70.)

In 2015’s Daddy’s Home, audiences saw sensitive stepdad Brad (Will Ferrell) go to war with badass biological dad Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) for the affections of Dylan, Megan and their mother Sara (Linda Cardellini). Since then, Brad and Dusty have put aside their differences and settled into a working relationship as “co-dads,” but their lives are thrown into chaos with the holiday arrival of their own fathers: over nurturing Don (John Lithgow) and tough-as-nails Kurt (Mel Gibson).

Gibson describes his character: “Kurt’s an astronaut, a hard living, womanizing kind of dude still up to his old tricks even though he’s not a youngster anymore. There’s some fun to be had with the arrested development of this character. He loves his son, but he wasn’t and isn’t the ideal father, and that’s created a pretty dysfunctional relationship.”

Director Sean Anders admits to being flustered having Gibson on set. “Mel’s an extremely talented director and actor, and I really didn’t know what to expect. I felt a little like a dad being intimidated by a step-dad and just wondering what dynamic he’d bring, but as soon as he got here, he couldn’t have been a more funny, warm, affable guy.”

“Mel Gibson was perfect for the role of Dusty’s father,” says producer Chris Henchy. “Mel brings a swagger, a bravado, and just an intensity that pairs well with Mark Wahlberg’s. When you see Kurt, you understand Dusty. They’re father and son, and there’s a lot of testosterone and competition. A lot of the conflict and the comedy comes from Kurt reacting to what a helicopter parent Dusty has become,” Henchy says.

On the other end of the parenting spectrum, John Lithgow plays Don, the friendly, affectionate, polar opposite of Kurt’s aloof, lone wolf.

“Don has a big heart, and is the kind of guy who will deliberately change planes on a trip so he’ll meet as many new people as possible,” says Lithgow of his character. “He loves to talk, telling these conventionally dull stories that only he and Brad find exciting, jumping from subject to subject and clearing any room he walks into.”

“Even though we play complete opposites, all four of us get along great, playing off of each other and knowing exactly who our characters are and how they relate to the others,” says Lithgow. “Dusty begins feeling envious of Brad’s closeness with Don, but our seemingly perfect relationship falls apart halfway through. The bond between father and son is incredibly complicated, which makes for a great story and gives me a lot to play with as an actor.”

“It wasn’t until we got everyone in the room standing next to each other that we realized the magic of seeing Mark with Mel and Will with John,” Anders recalls. “Apart from being great actors and each of them bringing so much to the table, they really look like their dads. They even walk a little bit like them. There’s just something about them that works so perfectly.”

In Philippine cinemas November 29, Daddy's Home 2 is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

MARK WAHLBERG STARS IN TRUE STORY OF BIGGEST MAN-MADE DISASTER IN “DEEPWATER HORIZON”

 Based on true events, academy award nominee Mark Wahlberg stars in “Deepwater Horizon,” an edge-of-your-seat drama that chronicles the last few hours of the men and women working in the most technically advanced oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.  

               

                The Deepwater Horizon is an ultra-deep-water, advanced oil rig owned by the Swiss company Transocean and leased by British Petroleum that exploded on April 20, 2010, making it one of the largest man-made disasters recorded in history.   The ultra deep-water drilling rig off the Louisiana coast – the Deepwater Horizon – riveted the world on that fateful day as it experienced a devastating blowout, fire and nearly unstoppable ocean floor oil leak. For 87 days millions watched, hearts in mouths, as more than 50,000 barrels of oil a day gushed from the sea floor into the Gulf of Mexico. It would become the largest accidental ocean oil spill in human history. The impact to marine life and the questions of what went wrong and why are ongoing.

                The film, “Deepwater Horizon” follows a vital story that many have not seen: the story of the 126 crew members working aboard the Deepwater Horizon that day, caught in the most harrowing circumstances imaginable. They were skilled working men and women putting in a grueling shift in the hopes of getting back soon to families and lives ashore. In an instant, they were faced with their darkest hour, pushed to summon the courage to battle an unstoppable inferno blaze in the middle of the ocean, and when all seemed lost, to save one another.

               

                Wahlberg takes on the role of real-life Transocean chief electronics technician Mike Williams, a devoted family man who was overseeing the rig’s computers and electrical systems on April 20th, when everything he imagined could go wrong … did. Oil rig workers are a notoriously tough and gritty breed. The work is physically punishing and ultra high-pressure – as workers grapple with complex equipment approximately 60-feet above remote seas. Yet even for Williams, what happened that day was unprecedented. Williams knew the work was desperately behind schedule, but he also knew the Deepwater Horizon had sophisticated defenses said to be able to prevent even the worst blowouts. Nevertheless at 10 p.m. that night, volatile methane shot up into the rig, and all the rig’s defenses failed. The result was a sudden, deadly explosion and a series of fireballs, as the shattered rig and its crew were shaken, hurtled and drenched in combustible gas.  From that moment on, Williams was in a race to save his own life and those of his crewmates – each driven by the hope of making it home -- in an escape that seemed to defy all the odds.

               

                Wahlberg hopes that unforgettably tense and triumphant moment reminds people of what the costs were that night, for those who made it home and those who didn’t. He concludes: “Like most people at the time this happened, I was only aware of the fact that the Deepwater Horizon was a huge manmade environmental disaster, there is so much people are not aware of about this story and it is so important that it be told.”

                Discover the real earth-shaking story of the “Deepwater Horizon” when it opens on October 5 in cinemas from Pioneer Films. 

                “Deepwater Horizon” also stars a powerhouse cast including Dylan O’ Brien, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich and Gina Rodriguez.

Mark Wahlberg In Transformers: Age Of Extinction

Movie release material

Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg (“The Fighter”) gets to show off his fatherly protective side in Paramount Pictures' “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” the fourth installment in director Michael Bay's summer blockbuster franchise.

Photo courtesy of UIP

Walhberg plays single dad Cade Yeager who the actor describes as "a very ordinary guy who has to do extraordinary things in the face of danger to protect his family — anyone can relate to that. It's a little more intense, but there are great moments of humor infused."

Fans can expect a lot of boom from the Michael Bay-directed film, which will introduce a new breed of Transformers — ancient aliens that transform into dinobots. "Michael is always pushing boundaries, but here we're creating new boundaries," Wahlberg says. "This is going to be a very cool ride."

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.

With help from a new cast of humans (led by Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” the fourth film in director Michael Bay's global blockbuster franchise, stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Sophia Myles, Li Bingbing, Titus Welliver and T. J. Miller. Produced By Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. Based on Hasbro's Transformers™ Action Figures. Written By Ehren Kruger. Directed By Michael Bay.

Mark Wahlberg earned both Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominations for his standout work in the family boxing film “The Fighter“ and Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed drama “The Departed.“ Wahlberg has played diverse characters for visionary filmmakers such as David O. Russell, Tim Burton and Paul Thomas Anderson. His breakout role in “Boogie Nights“ established Wahlberg as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.

Wahlberg’s remarkable film career began with “Renaissance Man,“ directed by Penny Marshall, and “The Basketball Diaries,“ with Leonardo DiCaprio, followed by a star turn opposite Reese Witherspoon in the thriller “Fear.“ He later headlined “Three Kings“ and “The Perfect Storm,“ with George Clooney, and “The Italian Job,“ with Charlize Theron. Wahlberg then starred in the football biopic “Invincible,“ with Greg Kinnear, and “Shooter,“ based on the best-selling novel Point of Impact. He reunited with “The Yards“ director James Gray and co-star Joaquin Phoenix in “We Own the Night,“ which he also produced. Other projects include “The Lovely Bones,“ “The Other Guys,“ “Contraband“ and “Ted.“ Most recently, he starred in Michael Bay’s “Pain & Gain“ with Dwayne Johnson, “2 Guns“ with Denzel Washington, and “Lone Survivor“ for director Peter Berg.

Now showing across the Philippines in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and 2D cinemas, “Transformers: Age of Extinction” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Mark Wahlberg in "TED"

Mark Wahlberg has played lethal hitmen, deadly snipers, intimidating cops, crusty sailors, hair-triggered soldiers and a championship boxer but in the new comedy "Ted," he plays a pot-head who ends up on the wrong side of a brawl with his best friend, a stuffed bear.

Scene from Ted. Photo courtesy of UIP.

What was your best Christmas present?

One Christmas, when I was a little boy, I got a brand new bike. I convinced my parents and my brother that I already knew how to ride a bike.  It was a really cold Christmas morning in Boston. They took me outside with my new bike and I was so excited. I got on the bike and they started pushing me. So, I’m going down the hill riding the bike but I had never ridden a bike before and I didn’t know how to stop. I ended up going over the curb and crashing into the chimney of someone’s house. After that, my brother was nice enough to put training wheels on the bike and I learned to ride over the next few months.

What did you first think of the idea behind TED?

When I first heard the original concept they told me the story was about this guy and his teddy bear that comes to life and the teddy bear starts running around acting crazy. I thought it wasn’t for me. Then I read the script and completely forgot about the whole teddy bear aspect and just thought it was a great relationship and friendship story.

Do you have the same sense of humor as Seth MacFarlane (Director)?

We have a similar sense of humor. His is a little more sophisticated and mine is more street.

What do you like about Seth?

Seth is the smartest and probably the funniest person I’ve ever met. He’s also a really likeable guy. Coming into the comedy world, aside from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, I’ve met a lot of people and some of them seem to have this kind of dark side to them, even though they appear to be very funny on TV or in movies. Seth is a very sweet, likeable guy and his humor comes from a nice place even though it might be offensive at times to certain people. He‘s not trying to offend. He just doesn‘t think there are any rules or boundaries.

Growing up with such a large family, you probably never had to outsource for friends.  Do you have any buddy friends from when you were a little boy?

I held on to my friends for as long as I could until my wife said, “Look, these guys can’t move into the new house with us and the baby.” I was always hanging around with my friends. We were like Ted and John. We always hung out and were a little bit of a bad influence on each other but we always loved each other and had that bond. All guys want to hang out with their friends and want to hold on to that little bit of adolescence that guys enjoy. I share that a lot now with my two sons. We go crazy!

Do men ever totally grow up? Is there always a little boy in there?

Sometime you meet kids and they already seem very adult. I think it depends on the person. I think more than less, yes, a lot of guys have that characteristic.

You’ve had a lot of ups and downs in your life. What is the one thing that you kept with you the entire time?

Despite the fact that my parents had to go out and work really hard to provide for us, I was raised right. I always knew in the back of my mind what the right thing was. It doesn’t always mean I made the right decisions though.

Was it hard working with the teddy bear?

It was at first but then I started to appreciate that I didn’t have to deal with any other actors.

How difficult was the fight sequence?

That was just me flailing around, looking ridiculous and feeling embarrassed about it but I trusted Seth. Everything I do I try to make as realistic as possible. It felt so false when I was doing it but people love that scene.

You have a house full of teddy bears because of your kids. Have you started to look at them differently now?

I had bought this big teddy bear from a furniture store for my wife and it was always in our bedroom. I also had the smaller one for my kids. We’d had the bear for a while, so when I started shooting this movie, I took the bear with me to Boston and it sat in my hotel room. We’d be sitting there reading lines and every once in a while I’d glance over at it.

  

What did you wish for as a kid?

I wanted to be a professional athlete. I used to play basketball in the schoolyard.

What do you say to your kids when they ask to see TED, dad’s movie with the teddy bear?

They see the posters all over town and they ask, “Oh daddy, we can see that one right?” And I say, “No.” I put my son to sleep last night telling him the story of TED, obviously the G-rated version of the story.

You grew up with very little money. Is it a different set of problems raising children now that the opposite is true?

Our children still have to work hard for things that they want. My wife likes to make Christmas, birthdays and the holidays very special but they’ve got to work hard to earn things. The most important thing that I can give them is good values.

You’re a family man now. Do you miss hanging out with your guy friends?

When I’m on the set working, I have friends working with me and we have enough time to shoot the breeze and do that whole thing while we‘re on set. But, no, I don‘t miss it. It usually led to trouble.

Your character, John, is forced to grow up. Was it the same for you?

When I met my wife, I was living in an apartment with five of my friends. Then we started dating and when I was buying a new house, all my friends were walking around the house and picking out their rooms. I told them, “You guys can’t move in on this one!” I kept the other apartment for four months so that they could stay there and get their things sorted out. I did have one room in the new house where I had six sets of bunk beds, like army barracks, and I said “If we hang out and you stay overnight, you can stay in the barracks.” I didn’t want them to get too comfortable.

  

In TED, FLASH GORDON is John’s favorite film. What was your favorite movie growing up?

ROCKY was pretty big with me as a kid. I’ve met Sylvester Stallone a bunch of times. The first movie I ever saw in the theatre was the one that had the biggest impact on me and that was HARD TIMES, with Charles Bronson. I wasn’t even in school yet. My dad drove a truck and he’d be home early in the afternoon to take me to the movies all the time.

What was the worst roommate situation you’ve ever had?

They’ve all been pretty bad. I had one great roommate, the real Johnny Drama, because he could cook and clean. He did it all. The house was always spotless and he was always making breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Did you enjoy being back in your hometown of Boston shooting TED?

I love Boston but if I wanted to be in Boston, I would live there. I live in L.A. I like the weather here.
 

What drives you?  Is there anything you still want to achieve?

There’s plenty that I want to achieve and accomplish. I’m still as hungry and focused as I was the day I started, maybe even more so because I’m more disciplined now. All the days of partying and drinking and smoking are well behind me, so I’m even more focused. I don’t know what it is that makes me more focused, whether it’s where I came from or the possibility of going back there.

What’s next?

I just finished the Michael Bay movie, PAIN AND GAIN. Then Denzel Washington and I start on 2 GUNS in New Orleans.

“TED” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Crop.

Showing on October 4, 2012. Nationwide