'Arthur the King' Exclusive Interview: Mark Wahlberg

Moviefone speaks with Mark Wahlberg about 'Arthur the King.' "You're going to laugh, you're going to cry, and then you're going to go out and adopt a dog."

Opening in theater on March 15th is ‘Arthur the King,’ which was directed by Simon Cellan Jones (‘The Family Plan’) and is based on a true story. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg (‘Father Stu’), Simu Liu (‘Barbie’), and Nathalie Emmanuel (‘Fast X’).

Related Article: Mark Wahlberg Talks ‘Father Stu’

Mark Wahlberg talks 'Arthur The King.'

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Mark Wahlberg to talk about his work on ‘Arthur the King,’ what audiences can expect, the true story it is based on, physically preparing to play an adventure racer, bonding with his canine co-star on set, and his love for his own dogs.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, director Simon Cellan Jones, and real-life subject Michael Brandt.

Mark Wahlberg as Michael in 'Arthur The King.' Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez.

Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to audiences sitting down to watch this movie to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?

Mark Wahlberg: You're going to laugh, you're going to cry, you're going to cheer, and then you're going to go out and adopt a dog. That's just what's going to happen. But no, it's so exciting for this movie, especially, to be in theaters. I went to a screening yesterday in a theater that I used to visit three or four times with my kids and my wife, and I would go once or twice on my own, and we always just took away that experience of sitting there laughing, crying and enjoying films with others and strangers. So, to see that happening again and giving people so much hope and so much joy, it's nice.

(L to R) Mark Wahlberg as Michael and Simu Liu as Leo in 'Arthur The King.' Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez.

MF: Can you talk about how Arthur changes Michael's life through the course of this film, and have you ever had an experience with a dog that really changed your life?

MW: Look, my dogs, we just finally potty-trained the four of them, so that's changed my life quite a bit because I can just feel comfortable walking barefoot to the kitchen in the morning without turning the lights on and waking somebody else up by turning the lights on in the hallway. But it was remarkable to me because Michael was so obsessed with the idea of winning. He was obsessed with proving that he was good enough to become a world champion, and he was so close. Everything that he had done up until that point was very selfish. I mean, let's not try to water that down. Athletes must be self-absorbed and self-obsessed to be able to go out there and give that kind of time, attention and dedication to something, especially adventure racing. So, to see him make that drastic a decision and something that's so selfless and will alter the rest of his life in the way that it does... but everything happens for a reason, and I know he wouldn't change it for anything.

(L to R) Simu Liu as Leo and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in 'Arthur The King.' Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez.

MF: Did you bond with the dog playing Arthur immediately and what was it like working with him?

MW: We were neighbors, and we had to spend quite a bit of time together because we were going to be together for most of the time. I would immediately start feeding him things he wasn't supposed to eat, or the trainer wouldn't normally allow, and just getting to spend that time. But I'd never, ever imagined that he would be so engaged and so connected to me on an intimate and emotional level. It was incredible.

(L to R) Ali Suliman as Chik and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in 'Arthur The King.' Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez.

MF: Finally, can you talk about the challenges of physically preparing to play an adventure racer and what was it like for you to have a glimpse into their world?

MW: The thing that prepared me the most was doing ‘Lone Survivor’ because for something like adventure racing, it takes a different person. They just have a different makeup. It's all about suffering. It's about being able to endure mentally and physically. The level of suffering that they go through and the things that they put themselves through, you must be a special individual to be able to do that. So, I think tearing my meniscus on the first day of shooting put me in the head space that I needed to be. I certainly felt that pain every day, whether I was walking back to the set after. I mean, you felt it every day, but you also felt that you're onto something and doing something special, and you don't get that kind of fulfillment and that energy that you can't wait to get back there the next day and continue that on a lot of films. So, it is something that happens rarely, it's a rare thing.

Arthur the King

"An unexpected encounter. An unlikely bond. An unforgettable adventure."

PG-131 hr 47 minMar 15th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

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What is the Plot of ‘Arthur the King’?

Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. Based on an incredible true story, ‘Arthur the King’ follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes (Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Ali Suliman) for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean.

Who is in the Cast of ‘Arthur the King’?

Mark Wahlberg as Michael Light
Simu Liu as Liam
Juliet Rylance as Helena Light
Ali Suliman aș Chik
Rob Collins as Decker Swanson
Paul Guilfoyle as Charlie Light
Nathalie Emmanuel

(L to R) Simu Liu as Leo, Nathalie Emmanuel as Olivia, Mark Wahlberg as Michael and Ali Suliman as Chik in 'Arthur The King.' Photo Credit: Carlos Rodriguez.