Mark Wahlberg praises Halle Berry's action chops in “The Union”: ‘She is in incredible shape’

The actor plays a "blue-collar James Bond" recruited by his former flame for a secret mission in the Netflix action comedy.

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Mark Wahlberg plays a secret agent in Netflix's upcoming action comedy, The Union — though his character is more likely to order a cold beer than a shaken martini.

Directed by Julian Farino, the movie stars Wahlberg as Mike, a New Jersey construction worker whose world is turned upside down when his high school girlfriend, Roxanne (Halle Berry), comes back into his life and reveals that not only is she a covert operative, but she also needs his help for a dangerous mission.

Wahlberg describes his character as a “blue-collar James Bond,” but he doesn't start off as a superspy. "When you meet [Mike], he’s still living at home with his mom," the actor tells Entertainment Weekly. "He’s got the same job, same group of friends. Some of which is pretty admirable, having that loyalty to friends and connection to family, but he’s the guy who is scared to branch off. He got caught up in his surroundings and never really had the courage to step outside of his comfort zone."

When Roxanne reenters his life with more than romance on her mind, Mike is forced to take a giant leap out of that comfort zone. "He joins a special branch of elite blue-collar special agents called The Union,” Wahlberg explains. (His new team leader, Tom Brennan, is played by J.K. Simmons, making the film a third go-around for the actors, who previously appeared in Contraband and Patriots Day together.)

Wahlberg, who's been attached to the film since 2020, says the story progressed in new directions after Berry came aboard. “It evolved, and especially once Halle got involved, it became about a guy who would do anything to impress the love of his life — absolutely anything,” he says.

Speaking about his excitement to work with Berry, Wahlberg adds, “I’ve always been a huge fan of her and an admirer of her work. Doing anything with Halle is very easy but also an absolute joy. Pretty much any guy or gal would do anything to win her over, so it was certainly easy when it came to me basically following her like a puppy.”

Their shared approach to their characters’ dynamic was an asset in melding the comedic and action components of the film. Both actors wanted Mike and Roxanne’s relationship to feel real and grounded within the movie's comedic framework. “There’s a nice balance of humor and action with a story that ultimately relies on our chemistry,” Wahlberg says. The actor notes that Berry had no problem keeping up on the action end, adding, “She is in incredible shape, and you don’t have to worry about her being believable in those situations."

While working together on their high-stakes mission, the high school sweethearts also get the opportunity to heal past wounds. “Growing up when they did, in the mid-'80s in and around New Jersey, their relationship was probably frowned upon by their own family and members of their community, but they always had a deep connection," says Wahlberg. "For them to be able to reconnect and move forward is wonderful to see."

The Union will premiere on Netflix on Aug. 16.

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.