When The Departed hit theaters in 2006, it didn’t just become a box office success; it became a modern crime classic, and now Mark Wahlberg is set to reunite with his co-star in a new movie. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Departed won a total of four Academy Awards and has one of the most stacked casts of the 2000s.
The Boston-set crime thriller film features Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, and Wahlberg, who earned an Oscar nomination for his scene-stealing role as the sharp-tongued Sgt. Dignam. Another standout actor in the 2006 film is Vera Farmiga, who plays Madolyn, a police psychologist caught in the crossfire between DiCaprio and Damon’s characters.
Now, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reports Farmiga is set to star opposite Wahlberg in a new unтιтled Apple TV+ original, marking a 19-year reunion since The Departed. Helmed by Stephen Chbosky (Wonder, The Perks of Being a Wallflower), the project is based on 2023’s Weekend Rebels, a German-language sports comedy-drama based on the true story of Mirco and Jason von Juterzcenka.
The story follows a father and his autistic son, who endeavors to see every single Premiere League soccer team in order to decide which one is his favorite. However, sources say Wahlberg’s upcoming movie will take place in the NBA, as evidenced by the involvement of LeBron James’ The SpringHill Company, which will co-produce the film alongside Plan B.
What This Casting Means For Mark Wahlberg’s Apple TV+ Film
The Departed co-stars reuniting under the direction of Stephen Chbosky signals a shift in tone for both. Wahlberg is known for action-heavy or comedic movies, especially recently. Therefore, taking on a heart-centered sports dramedy, especially one such as Weekend Rebels, suggests an interest in returning to more grounded and character-driven material.
Farmiga brings serious dramatic weight to almost any role, and her involvement hints that the film will likely lean into the emotional nuance at the heart of its premise. With Chbosky at the helm, a director well-versed in portraying intimate family struggles, the adaptation could walk a delicate line between feel-good sports film and meaningful father-son drama.
Our Take On Mark Wahlberg & Vera Farmiga’s New Movie
While this new Apple movie might not be the kind of reunion The Departed fans were expecting, it’s a welcome one. Wahlberg and Farmiga share limited screen time in Scorsese’s crime epic, but they help elevate the film beyond its genre trappings. Watching them explore a film that touches on neurodiversity, parenting, and idenтιтy feels like a smart, evolved career move.
The film marks the second collaboration for Apple and Wahlberg following The Family Plan, so Apple’s backing only adds to the promise of the Weekend Rebels-inspired film. If done right, this The Departed reunion could end up being a sleeper emotional hit, and a much-needed reminder that Mark Wahlberg, when paired with the right material, can still surprise us.
