When Marky Mark decided to make the leap from pop star to serious actor in the mid-1990s, his first major role was in The Basketball Diaries. Nearly two decades later, Wahlberg (né -y Mark) will guide his 2011 equivalent through a similar path. Deadline reports Wahlberg and Justin Bieber are in negotiations with Paramount to star in an untitled drama set in the world of street basketball. The idea surfaced over NBA All-Star weekend, when Bieber impressed Wahlberg and producer Stephen Levinson with his skills in the celebrity game (Bieber was named MVP). Ian Edelman, creator of the Wahlberg/Levinson production How to Make It in America, will write the script, described as “The Color of Money meets The Karate Kid.” More after the jump.
Rucker Park is not populated by white kids with mop tops, so I see the Karate Kid parallels in Bieber as an outsider trying to earn respect. That makes Wahlberg the Mr. Miyagi figure. Does the Color of Money reference imply Bieber will turn on mentor Wahlberg and eventually face off in the climactic one-on-one game? Because that sounds awesome, horrific, or both.
I will say this for the prospects: street hoops could is a great setting for a movie. Edelman has demonstrated a canny sense of New York culture in How to Make It in America that should translate well to the project. And Bieber is a charming kid — under the right director, this could be his 8 Mile. I’d much rather see Bieber take on this than play a young Ashton Kutcher in What Would Kenny Do? in his feature debut. That sounds painful. This has potential.
That said, has anything good ever been come from the NBA celebrity game?
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o k
she llcked me like a lollipop
Well, kiss my grits, how pathetic is this? I’m practically rendered speechless.
That’s just disgusting
Hahahaha. I didn’t even read the article, just the title. I think this is the answer to the question, “How can we make the worst movie in history?”
good
Justin is just so cute and gorgeous! I love him. His songs are amazing. Even though I have a boyfriend, I’d still be a cougar for him! OH YEAH BABY!!!
treated myself to a thai massage today and am still giggling over the female masseuse’s major fascination by my BIG beautiful butt hahha… It’s mesmerising!
…..is Hollywood THAT desperate? I friggin hope not. Mark Wahlberg is way too good to be stooping this low. I guess I’m just disappointed that some little kid who thinks he can sing wants to think that he can act too; isn’t it enough that he’s used Usher to get popular?
Did anyone even watch the celebrity game? Bieber SUCKS at basketball, he was only named MVP because teenage girls who love him voted in. Get the Razzie Awards ready….
I grew up with Mark and I still see him on occasion when he comes back to Boston. I think that it’s hysterical that he may be playing a character involved in the world of “street hoops” because he is a TERRIBLE basketball player. I understand that it is not essential for an actor to possess the athletic skill to play an athlete but it sure does help sell the premise. The illusion of a sports themed film is completely ruined when you see an actor that is obviously not physically equipped to play a particular character.
It’s like a nightmare of bad movie ingredients, combined into one horrific stew of terrible.
I do agree that street basketball is potentially a premise that could spawn a good movie, but maybe cast someone more believable as the kid playing street basketball in friggin’ Harlem? What’s next, a white guy playing a samurai? CRAZY!
sounds like cheap shit to me!