Mark Wahlbergis still holding out hope that he’ll one day play his own superhero:The Six Billion Dollar Man.Originally thought to be opening in 2017, the big-screen reimagining of star Lee Majors' television series,The Six Million Dollar Man,has languished in a would-have-could-have-should-have development hell for over seven long years.
However, while promoting his new filmThe Union,Wahlberg was asked if his co-star Halle Berry has tried to recruit him into the world of cinematic superheroes. And the actor used the opportunity to once again bring up the bionic badass, Steve Austin — not to be confused with the “Stone Cold” wrestler. Wahlberg toldComicBook.com:
“You know, I have one superhero movie in mind,and it’sThe Six Billion Dollar Man,formally known as The Six Million Dollar Man — gone up due to inflation.It’s grounded, and it’s plausible, real. You know, there is lots of bionics technology and science happening right now.So, this is something that has all the wish fulfillment of a superhero, incredible things.”
The Six Million Dollar Man
Author Martin Caldin’s 1972 science fiction and secret agent mash-up novelCyborgserved as the inspiration for the TV movie (1973), and it eventually evolved into The Six Million Dollar Man,which aired for a total of five seasons from 1974 until 1978. Wahlberg continued in the same interview:
“But, I don’t have to wear one of those suits.I don’t have the confidence to walk around in one of those suits.Halle goes, ‘Oh you’d look great in one of those costumes.‘I go, ‘It’s not the physical appearance, it’s the mental confidence to walk out of my trailer.'"
Wahlberg Isn’t a Six Billion Dollar Man in The Union
In December 2023,Mark Wahlberg’s hopeful update onThe Six Billion Dollar Manindicated a renewed interest in the project, and perhaps the adaptation finally making its way to the Silver Screen. However, there isn’t any indication today that fans are truly closer to seeing Steve Austin return. So, for the time being, die-hard Wahlberg followers will just have to settle for seeing him play opposite Halle Berry in Netflix’s upcoming flick,The Union.
And while Wahlberg’s character, a New Jersey construction worker, is NOTHING likeThe Six Million Dollar Man’sSteve Austin (Majors), co-star Berry teases an action-packed premise, which should entertain all the same. Berry said in an interview while promotingThe Union(perTudum):
“The Union does the dirty work for the CIA and FBI.When you really need the job done, you call in this group of people.They’re blue-collar workers,everyday average people who getplucked by The Union to be trained to shoot and do combat intelligence and tactical weaponry.”
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While Wahlberg recently revealed that he and his creative team do havethe rights toThe Six Billion Dollar Man,the actor is currently busy doing his press tour forThe Union,so the waiting game continues for astronaut Steve Austin’s big-screen adventure.
Earlier, in May of this year, another of Lee Majors’ TV shows was adapted for theaters, butThe Fall Guyturned out to beone of the summer’s biggest financial disappointments.If Wahlberg’sThe Six Billion Dollar Mancould literally live up to its name, that would be quite the achievement for Wahlberg. But for now, his “superhero” dreams remain on hold.
Check out the official trailer (below) for Wahlberg’s new filmThe Union,which drops Friday, August 16 onNetflix.
