Justin Bieber, Mark Wahlberg Eying Basketball Movie

By Moviefone Editors Posted Apr 28th 2011 09:15AM

Marky Mark and Justin? On a basketball court?

According to reports at Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount is in negotiations with Mark Walhberg and Justin Bieber for an untitled drama that will revolve around street basketball.

Both Wahlberg and Bieber are closet basketball players -- Wahlberg regularly has his friends over for full-court action and Bieber has some hoops chops.

Apparently Wahlberg saw Bieber play ball in February during a celebrity game held during NBA All-Star Game weekend in which Bieber showed off his court skills. Wahlberg -- who now juggles acting with producing -- subsequently pitched an idea to Paramount executives, who are talking it through in more detail with Bieber's camp, a source told THR.

The tone of the project is described as 'The Color of Money' meets 'The Karate Kid,' according to Deadline.

Paramount is more than happy to be in business with Bieber. His 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' concert film was made on a $13 million budget and grossed $97 million worldwide.

This will be the 17-year-old singing sensation's dramatic debut but have no doubts about this kid. We'll bet he'll do quite well as a big screen star. After all, Wahlberg started out as a rapper (remember Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch?), segued to Calvin Klein ads, and eventually caught the critics' eyes with his role in 'The Basketball Diaries' alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Deja vu, anyone?

According to Wahlberg, neither he nor Bieber would sing or dance in the project. Darn. That would be a trip.

Tags: justin bieber, Mark Wahlberg

Comments

(18)

Thursday 28 April

By themeeker

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Marky Mark and the little Beeber girl? Gross.

Just say no.

By BTDT

Whalberg has a reputation for being nuts, but he's a pretty good actor.
As small as he is, Beiber isn't a bad roundball player.

By Poovnoga

Why are they letting a racist like Wahlberg make movies?

He called a Vietnamese man a g00k and beat him and blinded him in one eye.

That's much worse than what Mel Gibson did. If they're gonna drive Gibson out of Hollywood, they should do the same for Wahlberg. Why aren't they doing the same?

By mw

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It was nice not to hear about the Beeber for a while, now here we go again.

By chsguyi69

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Really? The boy is over rated and will someday fade away like so many before him. Remember Leif Garrett?

By TT

Bieber plays Marky Marks wife.

By Biscotti

Wahlberg and Beiber on the same team? That's going to be weird unless the NBA and the WNBA partner up at the end of the movie.

By dee

Bieber's the man!!!! :)

By htcorner23

How can you tell?

The white guys usually OWN it. LOL

By georgie

I see pretty much everything with Walberg, but I will make an effort to miss this one.

htcorner23 is a broad, nuf said!!!! LOL

By Adam Vant

What are they making, a remake of One On One, with Beiber as Robbie Benson and Wahlberg as Annette O' Toole?

By simpsonsimpmike

Bieber boy and Marky Mark, what a pair. Wahlberg the poster boy for failed one hit wonder white rappers is now going to give basketball a shot with biggest little fruit cake going, Bieber. I guess Wahlberg thinks he’ll get a “Sweet Sensation” from Bieber.

By Heyes

Anouther movie i wont waste my time on.... Marky mark playing ball with a no talented little girl isnt much entertainment

By the_fool

What country are they going to film the movie and what countries are they going to show it in. Not in The United States that is for sure since the little snot doesn't like this country.

Monday 02 May

By Rachel

I would watch it!
I read about it on this Justin Bieber news site too!

Sunday 08 May

By Ginger Calhoun

This guy turned his life around from bad boy on the street to Hollywood actor and producer. Give Mark a break as a very good business man and someone who has stated he regrets many of his past ways that got him into trouble but taught him lessons he does not want to repeat. This idea of a basketball movie with Justin could be great for both Mark and Justin.

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