Mark Wahlberg practices being pensive and Icelandic.
Variety reports that Mark Wahlberg is set to star in an English-language remake of “Reykjavik-Rotterdam.” The original is Iceland’s official Oscar entry this year; it’s already won numerous awards on the Icelandic awards circuit.
(By the way, if you haven’t been to Iceland, I highly recomment it. Lovely country.)
Here’s the plot of “Reykjavik-Rotterdam”:
An ex-freight ship worker, fired for smuggling alcohol between Reykjavic and Rotterdam, is struggling as a security guard. His best friend convinces him to sign on for one last crooked job. The worker doesn’t realize his friend has set him up and plans to make off with his family while he’s away at sea.
Ahh, the one last heist goes wrong plot. Haven’t seen that before (yes, dripping with sarcasm). In all seriousness, it sounds like a great role for Wahlberg. You know–action, anger, loner, discontent, revenge, etc. All part of a successful Mark Wahlberg movie.
Of course, part of what makes an Icelandic movie appealing is the stark, mysteriousness of its setting. How will Wahlberg geographically compete? The obvious answer is to set the English-language version in Alaska. But you can find your own kind of all-American emptiness in some of the more deserted areas of the plains. Would love to see it out there. Then again, New Mexico offers film companies considerable tax breaks. Maybe it will turn up there…
