Do you think there is a sentiment that we’re feeling a little screwed over by our government right now?

WAHLBERG: Oh, definitely, but that wasn't - it was great that it worked out like that, but it wasn't what we were really thinking about at the time. We were just like, 'Hey, this is a really interesting script.' We were going out to make a big commercial movie and we thought why not this one, but it's just like the Anna Nicole thing. Obviously, we shot the movie months and months ago.

Was there any debate about that?

WAHLBERG: We didn't think so. It wasn't until like yesterday and the day before that we were getting people's reactions from it and at that point it was too late to take it out.

You have a great relationship with Michael Pena in the film. Was it like that from the beginning?

WAHLBERG: Yeah, we just clicked. We're going to play golf on Thursday. Spent a lot of golf time together. I really admire how committed he is to his work. It was a well-written part and a part that I would've loved to have played and that I would've chased five or six years ago. I thought that we were really lucky to get him because I know he's already been in some great films in a short amount of time. I feel like I can take some of the credit for his success. He's gonna be a big star.

Were you involved in his casting?

WAHLBERG: Well, we've all - they certainly asked me what my opinion was and we certainly read with a bunch of people. I just wanted the best person for the part. I wanted the best possible chemistry between myself and whoever was going to be in the part. We read with a bunch of people and he just nailed it and everyone felt that strongly about him being the guy.

Entourage is more popular than it’s ever been. How involved are you with the show?

WAHLBERG: Well, I've been off doing my own thing. If those guys need my help then they're screwed. They're so talented and so it's really just about putting the right pieces of the puzzle together and kind of between us and HBO kind of getting them to where they needed to be and now they're off on their own. I can't wait. I don't even want to see the dailies anymore. I want to see it on Sunday night like everyone else.

Are you surprised at how much it’s caught on?

WAHLBERG: No. We thought that it was going to be a big hit. We always thought that especially with it being on HBO. Initially when I told people about the idea they thought that it sounded like some silly MTV reality show. I was like, 'No. It'll be a traditional sitcom about four guys.' There's really a guy in the group that everyone can relate to and with HBO we were able to take our time and develop it. The people that we got involved in the show are just super talented, and so it's just a matter of allowing them to do their thing.

The show came from your stories coming up, and are you now seeing them have their own stories?

WAHLBERG: They all have their own stories. Kevin Connolly is going crazy right now. He bought some $2 million house and he's having all these problems with construction and all this shit. It's so funny, but they're all doing great and they're all enjoying it.

Your character in The Departed was a supporting role. Any reservations about making him the lead in a sequel?

WAHLBERG: No. I mean, look, you're working with Marty Scorsese and Bill Monahan again. If the script is really strong you've they'll bring in someone like De Niro to play a corrupt cop or congressman or senator. No, I don't have any problem with that.

What if Marty decided not to direct it and someone else came in?

WAHLBERG: Like a first time video director? Fuck. Let me direct it.

Do you think Marty would have to be there?

WAHLBERG: Yeah. Look, I think that would be the smart road to go. Me and Marty are doing a TV show as well on HBO and so I think that we can get Marty back.

Can you talk about the TV show?

WAHLBERG: It's going to be set in Atlantic City. It's about the mob controlling Atlantic City in the early years, the '60's and '70's. Nick Pileggi is going to be writing along with someone possibly from 'The Sopranos' writing team. Marty is going to be executive producing it. It'll be a series on HBO.

How long before that gets going?

WAHLBERG: It's all kind of happening. Marty is really jazzed about it and HBO is obviously thrilled with the idea of working with him. So I think that in the next couple of weeks we're going to sit down again.

Is there a title?

WAHLBERG: Not yet, no.

If you had exhausted all legal means to solve a problem do you think that you would be able to take care of it yourself? I’m not asking if you would kill someone…

WAHLBERG: Again, it's Sunday. That's a Wednesday question. But no, I would hate to be put in a situation where I had to do something like that. God forbid, if something happened to my children or something happened to someone who couldn't defend themselves, I don't think that I would be that quick to be reasonable or be so forgiving, but that's what I'm supposed to do and that's what I practice.

This being lent, is there anything you’ve given up?

WAHLBERG: Yeah, no meat on Fridays and I haven't had any beer, but I don't necessarily try to give things up as opposed to focus on doing better. Being more patient, being more generous, being more honest. Those are the things that I try to do and I remind myself of those things everyday when I say my prayers.

So you haven’t done any films since Shooter. What’s next for you?

WAHLBERG: Well, hopefully I'm going to be starting this boxing movie in the summertime playing Irish Mickey Ward who was a boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts and Matt Damon is going to play his brother.

Are you ready to get hit?

WAHLBERG: I know. On paper it sounds really good and then two weeks into shooting I'm  wanting my mommy.

You really challenge yourself physically with these roles. Do you want to keep doing that?

WAHLBERG: Well, I promised my trainer who's my sparring partner that this would be the only boxing movie I did. I've been kicking his ass everyday, but certainly while I can I want to do that. I always wanted to be an athlete and so it was a dream to be able to put on an NFL uniform and get out there and play a champion without actually having to spend all the hours in the ring and take all the hits that you have to take. It's a dream for sure.