Role of drug cartel 'godmother' Griselda Blanco is Oscar bait, actor tells 'Sway in the Morning.' By Kara Warner, with reporting by Devi Dev
Mark Wahlberg Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Mark Wahlberg always has a lot on his plate, juggling projects as both an actor and producer. One film he's been talking about for awhile now is "Cocaine Cowboys," a feature film based on the 2006 documentary directed by Billy Corben. And when Wahlberg stopped by Sway Calloway's "Sway in the Morning" Sirius radio show on Tuesday (January 10), he hinted at some major news.
"We're waiting on the script. It's going to be sooner rather than later," Wahlberg told Sway's Shade 45 co-host, Devi Dev. "We're going to shoot that in Miami, hopefully in the summer or the fall."
"Cocaine Cowboys" follows the rise of the cocaine trade and the subsequent crime epidemic and drug war that swept through Miami in the 1970s and '80s. The documentary featured first-person interviews with journalists, lawyers, former smugglers and gang members, many of whom argue that the criminal operations behind the trade can be traced to one prominent figure: infamous crime family matriarch Griselda Blanco.
Wahlberg, who has expressed interest in teaming up with his director buddy David O. Russell on the project, joked that Devi Dev might have a shot at playing "godmother" Griselda Blanco. But the actor/director also said the co-host would have stiff competition from a well-known actress who's very interested in the part.
"It's one of those characters that will go down in history. Jennifer Lopez is chasing that [role] like crazy," Wahlberg revealed. "It's the role — if I could play Griselda, I would. That's Academy Award [bait] right there."
Wahlberg and Devi also discussed the fact that whoever lands the Blanco role will have to forget about being pretty. Getting into character will require a transformation à la Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning transformation for "Monster."
Catch MTV News' Sway Calloway on "Sway in the Morning," on SiriusXM Radio's Shade 45 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon ET.
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