Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for The Union!
Summary
After waiting 30 years to work together on screen, Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry address the chances ofThe Union 2. The Netflix movie sees the former two-time Oscar nominee star as Mike McKenna, a New Jersey construction worker who is reunited with his high school sweetheart Roxanne Hall, played by the latter Oscar winner, as she attempts to recruit him for her secret intelligence agency and embark on a mission to recover sensitive data. Alongside Wahlberg and Berry,the ensembleUnioncastincludes J.K. Simmons, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Alice Lee and Jackie Earle Haley.
In honor of the movie’s Netflix premiere,Varietyspoke with Wahlberg, Berry and director Julian Farino to discussThe Union. When asked about the ending’s lack of a kiss between its lead characters, the group actually revealedthis was an intentional decision on the creative team’s part in an effort to build anticipation for a potential sequel, and even teased Netflix had a part in suggesting a multi-movie plan. See what Wahlberg, Berry and Farino shared below:
Julian Farino: We take the relationship to a certain place, and then I think you’ve got to leave a lot of space to go. Netflix always said to us at the beginning, “You have to think of this as a possible three-movie idea.” So if an audience comes out wanting a kiss, then we’ve probably done alright, in my opinion.
Halle Berry: Once they kiss, then it’s over. We’re hoping if we get to do a second one, we’ll let that chase continue. You want to see the journey — to see these two high school sweethearts find each other.
Mark Wahlberg: If we get to go on and do something else, I would imagine there’ll be a lot more than a kiss. But, you know, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
How Likely Is The Union 2 To Happen?
Much to Berry, Wahlberg and Farino’s point,The Union’s endingdid leave the door open for a potential sequel. Having successfully brought down Colter’s traitorous Nick Faraday and recovered the list of secret agent identities, Mike and Roxanne were finally able to enjoy some alone time by attending a wedding in their hometown and plan a vacation together. Their plans were somewhat hampered, however, when Simmons' Tom Brennan appeared and mentioned a mission in Marrakech they’re both needed for, giving them three days to relax before getting back to work.
Despite this sequel invitation, though, there are some key hurdles the creative team will have to overcome if they hope to developThe Union 2. One of the biggest ones is that of the response to the first film, withThe Uniongarnering generally negative reviewsfrom critics and audiences alike, sitting at just a 44% approval rating from the former and 29% from the latter on Rotten Tomatoes. Though neither Wahlberg nor Berry are strangers to poor reviews, this strong negative reaction from audiences may show a lack of interest in a follow-up.
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The other potential roadbump facingThe Union 2’s chances is Netflix’s recent changes in their overall production strategies. After investing heavily inZack Snyder’sArmy of the DeadandRebel Moonfranchises,both have reportedly seen their future projects quietly cancelled following the negative reactions to the latter. While it’s unclear how big the price tag was forThe Union, considering its A-list cast and large-scale action set pieces indicate it was not a cheap effort, and unless the movie proves a streaming hit, Wahlberg and Berry’s sequel hopes may not come to fruition.
The Union
Cast
The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.
