Mark Wahlberg's Uncanny Transformation for "Most Anticipated Movie" of the Fall
Over the last few decades, Mark Wahlberg has become a premier talent in the entertainment business. From Contraband to The Fighter to Ted to The Departed to Play Dirty to many other popular films, Wahlberg's name is now synonymous with box-office success. And one thing he's had in common among most of his projects is his appearance.
With that being said, he made quite the physical transformation for his upcoming movie, By Any Means, scheduled to debut this fall. He appears to still have his muscular physique, but when you look at his face and hair, you're sure to notice a difference.
Mark Wahlberg Has a New Look for ‘By Any Means'
In the riveting new crime-thriller, Wahlberg goes back in time to the 1960s and portrays Greg Scarpa, one of the most notorious mafia hitmen in US history. At face value (excuse the pun), with no make-up or prosthetics, Wahlberg looks nothing like Scarpa. However, thanks to the make-up and hair artists on the By Any Means set, Wahlberg has a brand-new nose. Not only that, but his hair seems a little more voluminous than usual. Check out the trailer for the movie below, and see for yourself.
Now, some may disagree, but Wahlberg's new look certainly gives him an uncanny resemblance to the real-life Scarpa. For comparison's sake, here's an image of him.
‘By Any Means' Premieres on September 4
By Any Means officially hits theaters nationwide on September 4. If the trailer didn't entice you enough to want to watch it when it debuts, perhaps a brief description of the plot will. Here's the official synopsis:
"Based on a true story, a young Black FBI agent (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg), he finds himself pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur. When the system is broken, two men divided by everything agree on one thing: the law has limits. They don't."
Now, yes, I'm fully aware that many people will argue that the most anticipated movie this fall is either The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Focker-In-Law, or Sylvester Stallone's I Play Rocky. All three of the films are also good picks on my radar. However, Wahlberg plus Abdul-Mateen II plus crime-thrilling drama inspired by mafia folklore, and consider me sold.
Related: Netflix Quietly Adds New Season of History-Making Drama
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 11:05 AM.