Wahlberg stars in and produces the film.

And he spared us some time to talk about it… WithDeepwater Horizon, you invest a lot of time before you get to whats on the poster.

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Im certainly looking for that.

This was a rare occasion where a studio was willing to take a chance on a character-driven piece.

It has a disaster backdrop, but its essentially character-driven.

In a perfect world, those are the only movies that we make.

These are the kind of movies that Im personally drawn towards.

Certainly a lot of the stuff youve done has involved real stories, and playing real people.

Were you particularly tight on this one?

In a perfect world you involve them as much as they want to be.

With this, I dont think Id have been able to do it without Mike.

But I had no access to oil rigs.

Mike was my eyes and my ears with everything, and he held us to a very high standard.

I relied on him for all the information I needed to make this character believable.

They were a part of what America really is.

Was that your way in?

Thats it, yeah.

I knew nothing about people working on drill rigs.

It is one of the most dangerous occupations out there.

But not a lot of people knew that 11 people lost their lives.

Many more should have lost their lives, but for the heroic actions of those aboard the Deepwater Horizon.

That was the story we wanted to tell.

I get a sense from your work that youre an avid script reader.

Do you deliberately seek out films that do?

Whenever I take my kids to the movies, we have a thing called pick it or kick it.

We love watching the trailers.

We decide what movies we want to see based on the trailers!

Did I see all the crap that came out this summer?

Id be a terrible gossip columnist, as I was unaware whether you had children or not.

I was curious, because this film is a PG-13 in the US, 12A in the UK.

I would be comfortable with my kids seeing the movie.

The cultures are different in the US and the UK.

There were a couple of things that they asked us to change, that were very minimal.

Language wasnt really an issue.

So I would be comfortable with this particular movie.

[Laughs] Exactly.

And I was like, how do you even know who I am?

I figured theyd seenTransformersor something.

And they said we loveTed, we loveTed!.

My kids looked at me and said, Dad, these kids can see it?

And they were clearly younger than my eldest!

So yeah, that was a problem.

It would have been potentially terrifying if theyd saidBoogie Nightsrather thanTed!

[Laughs] Thankfully my kids dont know that one yet!

So I want to skew that the other way, really.

I dont think Id look good in a cape!

Going through your work, you seem to gravitate towards heroes who dont know theyre heroes.

Again, is that conscious?

Is that what appeals to you in stories you personally like?

I find that so inspiring, that an ordinary person can do some pretty incredible things in specific circumstances.

I find that particularly inspiring.

John Badham has written a pair of to an outsider like me really interesting books about directing film.

I dont get a sense that your relationship with Peter Berg is that.

But I am curious: where do you stand on that in your experience?

Do you ever find that directors are somewhat in awe, especially when youre producing too?

I think it comes down to control, right?

I started producing films out of necessity.

But people, talented filmmakers, Im always encouraging them to do their thing.

I want the film to be good.

I want everyone to be great in the film.

I create a positive, collaborative environment for people to create their best work.

I help out with the other actors, especially the younger actors.

But Im there to service his vision.

Im living proof that anything is possible.

You really have to put the time in, and the work.

If you go out there and you work really hard, things dont always work out.

You have to find confidence and belief in yourself.

There was an interview with Kevin Costner, I think from earlier this year.

And he was asked ifDances With Wolvescould happen now, in an era of massive blockbusters and little else.

And he argued thatDances With Wolveshappened because someone drove it to happen, and got it through the system.

That thats something thats still possible.

Yeah, very much so.

I love the making ofDances With Wolvestoo.

Thats a great documentary.

[We share a bit ofDances With Wolvesdocumentary love here].

Youre in the UK now, so I have to ask you this.

Do you have one?

[pauses, like a true pro].The Italian Job[grins].

Jason actually is a really good friend of mine.

Hes a sweetheart of a guy, and I had a blast with him.

I would probably sayLock Stock!

Hes a good man.

You know my other favourite English actor?

Does that make you a Mike Leigh fan too?

[Eyes light up].

Oh, man:Secrets And Lies!

You know what, Im just into movies period!

Im still waiting for the call.

Of course, it gets really bad!

Are you going to get Mike Leigh to do it?

Id love Mike Leigh to do it!

Youd have to improvise it from scratch.

Thats what were best at!

You still haveDaddys Home 2coming up with Will?

The one that seems to have fallen off the radar is you did2 Guns.

With Denzel Washington, yeah!

There was sequel talk of that at one point.

Has that just petered out?

Its one of those things.

Im not really accustomed to being in the sequel business.

If not, Id rather take a crack at doing something original.

So what is next for you?

Weve been working onThe Six Billion Dollar Manfor quite some time, with Damien.

Im getting a sense of that.

[Grins] No!

Im not sure I could pull it off.

Do you thinkThe Six Billion Dollar Manis getting closer?

Bill Monahan, who wroteThe Departed, is doing a pass on the script right now.

I dont think Id have the confidence of walking around in my trailer in a cape!

Ill do it if you do it.

Mark Wahlberg, thank you very much!

Deepwater Horizonis in UK cinemas now.