Hollywood is once again the scene of a drama that heats up minds. Mark Wahlberg, one of the highest-paid actors in the industry, has announced his departure from a $165 million project alongside Tom Hanks. The reason? Wahlberg’s uncompromising attitude towards “woke supporters”, as he calls them. His decision to leave the production is making headlines, but Tom Hanks’s harsh reaction has surprised the public even more. What is behind this conflict that divides the world of cinema?
The project, a sci-fi epic with the working title Horizon’s End , is set to become a box office hit that pairs Wahlberg and Hanks as disparate heroes pitted against a dystopian threat. Filming was already underway when Wahlberg dropped a bombshell at an event in Los Angeles: “I don’t work with Worn supporters. I make movies for audiences, not agendas.” Unnamed, it quickly became clear that his criticisms were true, and parts of the production company reportedly called for “politically correct” changes to the script. Wahlberg, known for his direct approach, said he didn’t want to tell stories that “twist reality to push ideologies.”
The details of the controversy are explosive. According to insiders, the production company wanted to tweak certain elements of the action to bring issues like diversity and social justice to the forefront. Wahlberg is said to have felt these changes were “artificial and forced.” A scene in which a character explicitly indicates gender neutrality is said to have been the deciding factor. “I make entertainment, not sermons,” Wahlberg said in an interview with Variety . His departure would be a financial blow to the project, since his name would have guaranteed millions at the box office.
Tom Hanks, known for his liberal stance, reacted surprisingly cautiously. When asked about Wahlberg’s allegations, he responded in a press briefing only: “Everyone has their opinion. I want to mark all the good.” This short, almost diplomatic response surprised many who expected an open counterattack. Fans and critics are now speculating whether Hanks wanted to avoid the argument or if more is going on behind the scenes. The debate has exploded in X: “Hanks is great while Wahlberg is ridiculous,” wrote one user. Another responded: “Finally someone who stops the Hollywood-Wahn Hollywood. Respect, Mark!”
The controversy shines a spotlight on the deep trenches in Hollywood. While some stars like Wahlberg have emphasized what they see as an overreaching sense of political correctness, others, like Hanks, have argued for the need to reflect social issues in art. The tension between artistic freedom and social change is not new, but Wahlberg’s radical move to pull out of a $165 million project takes the debate to a new level. Industry experts say his departure could delay production or even jeopardize it as investors become nervous.
For Wahlberg, the decision is a risk, but also a brand preservation one. The actor, whose films like The Departed and Ted have garnered a large following as a conservative voice in Hollywood in recent years. His fans celebrate him as someone who “tells it like it is” while critics call him backward. “Hollywood needs more like Mark who fights for real stories,” wrote one supporter on X. But the opposing side warns: “If he continues, he isolates himself in a changing industry.”
The future of Horizon Zero Dawn is uncertain. Rumors suggest that producers are looking for a replacement for Wahlberg, possibly Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds. Hanks remains on board, but his silence leaves room for speculation: is he planning a bigger response or is he looking to smooth things over? For fans, the question remains as to whether the project will have the same appeal without Wahlberg’s star power.
This dispute is more than a Zoff-Hollywood one; it reflects the cultural tensions of our time. While Wahlberg stands by his principles, Hanks represents another vision of cinema. The world is watching how these giants stack up against each other, and one thing is certain: The debate over “woke” Hollywood is far from over.
