Mark Wahlberg shipped up to Foxboro on Monday, but it wasn’t to hang out with his Super Bowl-winning pal Tom Brady.
The Boston-bred star stopped by the Showcase Live Patriot Place cinema for a special red carpet event and screening of his latest action flick “Transformers: The Last Knight.” While the Dorchester native told the media in attendance that this is likely his last appearance in the franchise, Wahlberg assured fans that director Michael Bay has upped the ante for “The Last Knight.”
“I think you’re going to see bigger, better and more,” said the 46-year-old actor. “Michael, he makes these movies for the fans, and he’s always trying to out do himself with new technology, new storylines, new characters. I think people are really going to enjoy it.”
Wahlberg is without a doubt one of the most physically fit stars in Hollywood (though his “Ballers” buddy Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson owns the top spot), so it’s no surprise that his “Transformers” co-stars like Josh Duhamel wouldn’t even attempt his crack-of-dawn workout sessions. Waking up as early as 3 a.m. to pump iron before hitting the golf course, Wahlberg is able to stick to his on-set regimen by making sure he hits the sack early.
“I think Josh goes out after work, has a couple of drinks and eats dinner. See, I go right to bed,” he told Metro. “Michael Bay knows that, come 7:30 p.m., it’s time for me to go to bed because I’ve gotten up so early. I wake up early, go to work, do what I got to do before I actually go and shoot.”
For Monday’s event, Wahlberg and Hasbro, the Rhode Island toy company behind the “Transformers” series, treated a group of young fans to an evening of games and a sneak peek at the new film, which debuted on Tuesday.
Since the theater is a literal stone’s throw from Gillette Stadium, of course the New England superfan had to give his beloved Patriots some props. Wahlberg praised owner Robert Kraft for his work over the years in transforming the area into a must-see destination in Massachusetts.
“It’s amazing what he’s built here,” Wahlberg said. “From when Foxboro Stadium was here to now with Gillette and Patriots Place, it’s just amazing what he’s single-handedly done.”
Although he’s been able to hang out in his home state a lot recently between red carpet events and filming “Daddy’s Home 2” around town, Wahlberg will be jet setting a lot this summer. Following the screening, Wahlberg plans to visit family in Chicago and will also be spending a bit of time in Rome to film “All the Money in the World,” alongside Kevin Spacey and Michelle Williams.
Despite his busy summer, don’t expect Wahlberg to miss the upcoming mega-fight between undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor. The combat sports aficionado and celebrity investor in the UFC will definitely be tuning in for Mayweather vs. McGregor.
“It’s such a crazy thing,” Wahlberg told Metro. “Obviously Conor’s a tough guy, so if he’s willing to absorb some punishment to hit him, then maybe he has a chance. But he better do it quick. But Canelo [Alvarez], none of those guys have ever really pressed Mayweather in a way that someone needs to in order to catch him.”
