“Because I can, goddamn.”
Last night, when queried by The Hollywood Reporter about her choice of a revealing La Perla gown for the world premiere of Netflix’s The Union, Halle Berry explained her decision. Directed by Julian Farino, this action drama finds Berry portraying Roxanne, a character from a clandestine intelligence unit who enlists Mike, a blue-collar worker from New Jersey played by Mark Wahlberg, for a dangerous mission. Notably, they were high school sweethearts, which is another reason why Berry chose to wear the bold dress on the red carpet.
She went on to say, “Given that the storyline revolves around two lovers reconnecting, I felt it was fitting to share something personal now. And, remarkably, I find myself in a similar situation today.”
In another setting with The Union, Berry teams up with Wahlberg for the first time in their professional journeys, a collaboration that stems from a friendship spanning over three decades. It might seem unexpected, but Berry mentioned there had never been an opening for the duo to collaborate until this specific project. “Never at all,” she said. Upon learning about the opportunity, she felt it was something she hadn’t realized she needed. She’s known Wahlberg for a long time, and working together was a delightful experience. It was enjoyable. He’s a great team player. In some way, it felt like returning home. We share many similarities, and as we worked together, we discovered these commonalities which we utilized for the movie, hoping to bring them to life on screen.”
In addition to the lead role, “The Union” features Mike Colter, Jackie Earle Haley, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, Dana Delany, Lorraine Bracco, Patch Darragh, and J.K. Simmons. Mark Wahlberg is also involved in the production, working alongside his partner Stephen Levinson and Jeff Waxman.
Wahlberg expressed his desire for the film to harmoniously blend action, humor, romance, and sharp dialogue, similar to the movies featuring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Berry was fully supportive of this approach right from the start. As Wahlberg explains, “I got to perform action scenes with a comedic touch, and there’s also drama. Typically, in a romantic comedy or a pure action movie like John Wick, those additional aspects are often absent, but in this film, it offered me a chance to explore all the facets, and I can’t recall the last time I had such an opportunity in a movie with someone I enjoy working with.”
Berry is looking at a hectic second half of 2024. Her Alexandre Aja thriller titled “Never Let Go,” originally set for release on Sept. 27, has been advanced to Sept. 20 by Lionsgate. She also shared with THR last night that she’s planning to act alongside Angelina Jolie in the film “Maude v Maude” next year and is also preparing for another directorial project, which is expected to follow her Netflix MMA drama “Bruised,” set to release soon.
Regarding Wahlberg, he expressed several positive remarks about Berry during his pre-premiere speech at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre. After cracking a joke that his character in the Union is like “Jersey James Bond” with the nickname of “double go fuck yourself,” he shifted focus to his longtime friend.
“Wahlberg shared with the crowd that the key to this movie’s success lies in the incredible chemistry we share and her exceptional talent. She not only expects but also encourages dedication and effort from everyone involved. In fact, my character’s patience for 25 years in his mom’s house, bar, and neighborhood, working the same job, is a testament to the hope that she would return.”
As a gamer speaking, “I can’t wait for y’all to see this movie because only Halle Berry could pull off those scenes like she does. And let me tell you, when I met her in person, she was so down-to-earth, sweet, kind, talented, thoughtful, and tough – a true powerhouse!”
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2024-08-14 10:25