Mark Wahlberg refused to star in Oscar-winning movie because he was ‘creeped out’ by ‘graphic’ script

Mark Wahlberg once admitted he wasn't up for starring in a now iconic movie, having been left 'creeped out' from reading just 15 pages of the script.

Known for starring in comedies, dramas, romance, and action films, Mark Wahlberg has checked plenty of boxes in his nearly 30 years in film and TV.

However, that’s not to say Wahlberg hasn’t turned down his fair share of roles, including a well-loved beloved Oscar-winning film.

Mark Wahlberg had no desire to play a starring role in Brokeback Mountain. (Universal Pictures)

Brokeback Mountain was a film that took place over 20 years from 1963-1983 and detailed a forbidden relationship between two cowboys throughout that time. The film is widely considered a pioneer in LGBTQ+ films of the modern era, but ahead of its release, the script had a hard time finding people willing to work on what was, at that time, a highly controversial film.

Wahlberg has spoken about his decision to not star in Brokeback Mountain several times since its release in 2005, with him first expressing his thoughts on the film in a 2007 interview with WENN via TowelRoad.

"I met with Ang Lee on that movie, I read 15 pages of the script and got a little creeped out,” Wahlberg admitted.

“It was very graphic, descriptive–the spitting on the hand, getting ready to do the thing. I told Ang Lee, ‘I like you, you're a talented guy, if you want to talk about it more.'

“Thankfully, he didn't.”

While Wahlberg later clarified that he was never formally offered the role to turn down, he was far from the only actor unwilling to play either of the two lead roles in the film.

According to Gus Van Sant, the man who was initially meant to direct the film, it was difficult to find actors who wanted to play Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar.

“Nobody wanted to do it,” Van Sant told IndieWire in 2018. “I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a famous cast.”

“I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.”

Heath Ledger and Jack Gyllenhaal were eventually cast for the lead roles in the film. (Universal Pictures)

The inability to cast lead actors deterred Van Sant from continuing the project, leaving the film in the hands of Ang Lee, who went on to win Best Director at the 2006 Oscar Awards.

As for the starring roles, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal wound up playing Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist respectively, with both actors getting Oscar nominations for their performances in the critically acclaimed film.