UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Principal photography has been completed on Universal Pictures' ``The Truth About Charlie,'' Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme's exhilarating combination of romance and suspense set against the backdrop of an edgy, modern Paris.

A fresh take on the 1963 Stanley Donen film Charade, ``The Truth About Charlie'' stars Mark Wahlberg, Thandie Newton, Tim Robbins, Joong-Hoon Park, Ted Levine, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Christine Boisson, Stephen Dillane, Magali Noel, Simon Abkarian and Sakina Jaffrey, with special musical appearances by Charles Aznavour, Anna Karina, Pierre Carre and Gallic rappers Saian Supa Crew.

Demme, who won an Oscar for his direction of ``The Silence of the Lambs,'' produced the film with Ed Saxon and Peter Saraf, and co-wrote the script with Steve Schmidt. Ilona Herzberg is executive producer and Neda Armian associate producer. Demme's top-drawer behind-the-camera team includes director of photography Tak Fujimoto, editor Carol Littleton, composer Rachel Portman, production designer Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski and costume designer Catherine Leterrier. The Paris-based production began filming on March 14. Post-production work will be done in New York, with the film scheduled for release next year.

``In many ways, 'The Truth About Charlie' returns Jonathan to the kind of suspenseful film and filmmaking he was known for earlier in his career,'' said Mary Parent, Universal Pictures co-president, production. ``Jonathan has always loved a strong female lead in deep trouble in films as diverse as 'Something Wild,' 'Married to the Mob' and 'Silence of the Lambs,' and in 'The Truth About Charlie,' he's found a thriller that's right up his alley.''

Scott Stuber, Universal Pictures' co-president, production, said: ``Jonathan has really taken Paris and transformed it from merely a sophisticated backdrop for the story into a key character in the film, with a tense, dangerous allure that heightens both the romance and the suspense of the piece.''

Regina Lambert (Thandie Newton) meets the charming Joshua Peters (Mark Wahlberg) while vacationing in Martinique, as she contemplates ending her whirlwind marriage to the enigmatic Charlie (Stephen Dillane). But upon her return to Paris, she finds that both her apartment and her bank account have been emptied, and her husband has been mysteriously murdered. A trio of his old cohorts (Joong-Hoon Park, Ted Levine, LisaGay Hamilton) has begun shadowing her in hopes of answering their own questions about Charlie and recovering a bundle of missing cash. Joshua is in Paris now, too, and ready to offer any help he can.

The more Reggie learns, the more she must find out to fill in the missing pieces of this puzzle and to protect herself from ever-increasing danger. Joshua lays a growing claim on her affection, even as disturbing information about him surfaces and undermines her trust. Hard-edged Commandant Dominique (Christine Boisson) thinks Reggie herself is the most likely suspect. The attentions of a straight-laced embassy official (Tim Robbins) make Reggie's situation even more complicated. But all she can do is carry on with the knowledge that in life, as in love, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Universal Pictures is a unit of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com), a part of CANAL+, the TV and Film division of Vivendi Universal, a new global leader in media and communication.

For further information, please contact, Jeff Sakson of Universal Pictures, 818-777-4791 

SOURCE: Universal Pictures 

Mark Wahlberg may have spoken too soon when he accepted the lead role in director Tim Burton’s revised PLANET OF THE APES. After all, the actor hadn’t even thought about the big shoes he’d have to fill taking on a part inspired by the one Charlton Heston played in the original 1968 version of APES. Let alone the loincloth he’d have to wear.

"I promised Tim before really thinking about what I was getting myself into," admits Wahlberg, who committed to the part within five minutes of the pair’s first meeting. "I was a bit nervous, and also acting opposite people in gorilla suits was not exactly something that turned me on and excited me." 

Still, there was one major reason to accept the role: Tim Burton.

"Tim was there and got me through it," Wahlberg says. "I just had to keep reminding myself why I was there, because there were days when I started to panic."

In the new APES, the 30-year-old Wahlberg -- sans loincloth -- plays Leo Davidson, an astronaut who crash-lands on a planet of simians who rule over humans, treating them as lesser beings and slaves. Davidson is captured along with some humans who inhabit the planet, and he quickly plans an escape to freedom. Sympathetic ape Ari (Helena Bonham Carter), a human rights activist, helps them to safety, resulting in a deep bond forming between the two. On their heels is Commander Thade (Tim Roth) and his second-in-charge Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan), both of whom are purists believing in the separation of species. 

Believing his decision to star in the ape epic was the right one, Wahlberg arrived on set the first day of shooting terrified yet relieved to see Burton there to protect him from making a fool of himself. 

"I freaked out -- I was very scared," says Wahlberg. "There was this little kid with tribal markings on his face, a guy in a gorilla suit and Helena -- it all seemed pretty ridiculous to me." 

Wahlberg says the key factor in choosing his film projects is the director – as opposed to the script -- and Burton possesses the qualities he looks for.

"Tim is just one of those guys who’s got such a unique vision," Wahlberg says. "He’s such a talented guy. I thought I’d learn from him." 

Unlike many actors, Wahlberg considers the script to be a secondary consideration. Working with directors like Paul Thomas Anderson (BOOGIE NIGHTS), David O. Russell (THREE KINGS), James Gray (THE YARDS) and now Burton has convinced him he is right. 

"Everybody always talks about, ‘If you don’t have a great script, you are not going to have a great movie,’" he says. "I really don’t agree with that completely. I think with a great director and a great script you are going to get a great movie. With a fantastic script and a piece of s**t video director you are going to get a piece of s**t. I’ve based my last four decisions on [that philosophy] – except for ROCK STAR, which is the only time I’d ever signed on to do a movie when there was no director attached, and which was quite nerve-wracking for me. But, yeah, director first. I would repeat a performance to work with an interesting director."

While he escaped any broken bones or serious injury during the APES shoot, Wahlberg was no stranger to cuts and bruises. He took his share of damage despite leaving the dangerous stuff to his stunt double. 

"I am not sitting here bragging saying, ‘Oh I did all of my own stunts. That’s me hanging off that cliff. I’m tough,’" he says. "I didn’t want to do it. If Tim asked me, I would. Other than that I’ve got a guy sitting right next to me that looks just like me and loves to do it and you can drop him from a ceiling and he doesn’t care."

Though PLANET OF THE APES is Wahlberg’s first real "action role," don’t count on him living up to that label in subsequent films any time soon. In fact, he’s passed on several offers and many millions to star in such films already.

"It’s always been some video director and some script with no real substance," he says. "’Shoot ‘em up, bang-bang.’ I’ve never been interested in that. People are talking, ‘Oh, now you’re an action hero and a leading man,’ but it doesn’t mean I’ll start doing those films."

Still, all it would take for Wahlberg to sign up for more scrapes and abrasions would be for Burton to do the already-being-discussed sequel to APES. 

"If Tim’s in, I’m in. That’s how I look at it," Wahlberg says.

It seems Wahlberg can’t rave enough about Burton and his craft, even after working with the director for the better part of a year. 

"You’ve seen his work you know what he is capable of," Wahlberg says. "If you ever get a chance to spend seven months with him, like me, he’ll have a profound effect on you. He’s just an amazing guy."

Another extraordinary character associated with the project was original ape fighter Heston, who appears in a cameo as an ape in Burton’s update. Although Wahlberg and Heston share no scenes together, Wahlberg managed to meet the Oscar-winning actor briefly. The two never discussed their shared role or any shoptalk whatsoever, Wahlberg says.

"I just wanted to meet him and say ‘Hi’," Wahlberg admits. Calling the experience "weird," Wahlberg explains that he met Heston both in and out of makeup. With his ape face on, the older actor was quite frightening, Wahlberg says.

"You could hear his voice, which is scary in and of itself, and then we started to talk and he’s just looking at me and he takes the nose appliance and just rips it off."

Preparation for the role was no more difficult than ordering up a couple more cheeseburgers. Before shooting, Wahlberg, who had just come off shooting ROCK STAR opposite Jennifer Aniston, was a svelte 35 pounds lighter than he is on-screen for APES. Burton wanted him to bulk up, but Wahlberg wanted to take the research a little further than just the impending physicality of the part. 

"Me being the research freak that I am and wanting to be prepared, I wanted to go to NASA," he explains. "I wanted to sit down with the astronauts, but Tim was like, ‘Just sit in the chair and start flicking the switches.’"

Having seen the original APES when he was a kid, and not having been particularly intrigued by it, Wahlberg took another look at the 1968 classic. He was more impressed the second time around and now sees why everybody liked the film. But he did not want to "ape" Heston’s performance, so to speak.

"It’s cool, but Tim and I felt the same as far as approaching the character and trying to do something different and not living up to that," Wahlberg says. "Some of the original, classic lines that are in this movie were supposed to be said by me, but it just didn’t really work."

If the atmosphere was a bit strange during shooting, it may have been the fact that Roth, Duncan and Carter, when made up to be apes, tended to stay in character – even during their lunch breaks. 

"I was definitely on my own," Wahlberg says. "With Roth and those guys, when they were in makeup and in character, they are the characters. You don’t want to be around [Roth in ape character]. Outside of makeup, he’s the nicest guy in the world."

The production finished just in time for the film’s scheduled July 27 release. Just weeks before that Wahlberg was still shooting pickup shots for the film, with Burton running around from city to city trying to meet the deadline. 

"The timetable was ridiculous," Wahlberg says. "For me it was nothing -- business as usual. But post-production was the killer for Tim. He was in San Francisco to New York to L.A. to Paris to London. He came and got me in Martinique -- I was shooting in the Caribbean. We went to London and we shot two additional scenes three weeks before the film came out. It was ridiculous. I don’t know how he did it."

The enormity of the film and the secrecy that surrounded it kept Wahlberg from even knowing how the story would end until a few days before they shot the final scene. He was given the pages right before they shot it, though Burton kept him in tune with what was going to happen to his character, he says.

"He kept me up-to-date on what was going on -- only because I didn’t bother him, like most of the other actors who were picking every single thing apart," Wahlberg recalls. "I would just say, ‘OK, you want me to do this. No problem.’ I’ve never been in a movie, aside from BOOGIE NIGHTS, where the ending has been talked about so much."

While Wahlberg is already committed to working with BOOGIE NIGHTS director Paul Thomas Anderson again, another Anderson is on his "to work with" wish list – director Wes Anderson of RUSHMORE fame. Wahlberg is also scheduled to work with directors Russell and Gray again in the upcoming year. And there’s no doubt in his mind that if Burton is attached he will be working with the director again on at least one APES sequel. 

The possibilities for a second APES are endless. The romance between ape (Carter) and human (Wahlberg) was only touched upon in the film, but that doesn’t mean audiences won’t see an inter-species relationship in an upcoming film. Wahlberg, who joked about a love scene being shot for PLANET OF THE APES only to end up on the cutting room floor, wouldn’t mind -- as long as he’s not making out with any authentic apes. 

"The real chimps stick their tongues in your mouth all the time, and it’s nasty because they put their tongues anywhere and everywhere," Wahlberg laughs. "But kissing Helena was great. If we do another one there’s no telling where that’s going to go."

--Additional reporting by Eric Moro

Did a skimpy loin cloth — like the one Charlton Heston sported in the 1968 original — ever find its way into Wahlberg's wardrobe, only to be rejected? "When I first met with Tim [about the film], I said, 'I'll do anything you want,'" the actor recalls. However, he neglected to say that he would be "really uncomfortable in a loin cloth." As a result, Wahlberg had to wait six long weeks before eyeing his Apes wardrobe. "Thank God there was just a space suit," he sighs. Yet, even if the animal skin bikini had surfaced, the former Calvin Klein underwear model was prepped. "Had Tim known my concern, there would have only been a loin cloth, as a prank," he laughs. "And when I stepped out of the dressing room, [friend and two-time film co-star] George Clooney would have been there to take pictures!"

As for the MIA inter-species love scene between Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter's ape lady, that rumor stemmed from the actor's own jesting. "I started saying in interviews, 'It's hard-core, we're banging away,'" he confesses. "The next thing you know, reporters are asking, 'Why did you cut out the love scene?' Tim was like, 'What are you talking about?!'" Ever the tease, however, Wahlberg winks: "We're going to do something in the sequel."

Speaking of sequels, can someone please explain Apes's tune-in-tomorrow ending? "When people see it again, they'll figure it out," Wahlberg offers. "There have been debates, but I thought it was fantastic. Doors are left open, and that is very intentional." 

In other words, now that Apes is earning serious monkey money — the flick pulled in nearly $70 million in its opening weekend — start counting the months until that follow-up. "I kind of know what's going to happen, and part of it I like a lot," Wahlberg says. "I think the studio will let Tim go a bit further..." — Matt Webb Mitovich  

Many of us were first acquainted with actor Mark Wahlberg when he was hip-hop artist Marky Mark or was flashing his underwear in Calvin Klein ads. He's since created memorable characters in Boogie Nights, Three Kings and The Perfect Storm. Now he's stepping into Charlton Heston's shoes (forget the loincloth) as the astronaut plunged into a simian hell in the remake of Planet of the Apes.

Mark grew up on the mean streets of a tough Boston neighborhood where he was often in trouble with the law. Now he's taking on Cary Grant's suave, sophisticated role in the Charade re-make and is headlining Rock Star. We found him to be funny, charming and ready to morph into anything.

Teenhollywood: This is a very physical part. How badly were you beaten up?

Mark: Pretty bad. You had a bunch of frustrated guys in gorilla suits who saw me coming in and out of make-up in about five minutes and having the really "cush" part so they vented. They all got a crack at me and, you know, with Tim, he really likes to have the actors in there. A lot of actors say, 'Oh, yeah, I do a lot of my own stunts. I'm cool and tough'. I'm not that guy. I don't want to do it. I personally found a stunt guy who looks exactly like me and was willing to do anything. I'd rather have him in there but, for the most part, Tim wanted us to be there. I had no choice.

Teenhollywood: What's this story we hear about you saying you would do the part only if you didn't have to wear a loincloth like Charlton Heston did?

Mark: When I met Tim (Burton) I said 'I'll do anything you want. Any part you want me for, just say the word.' I was praying that he didn't want me to be an ape and if I was going to play the astronaut role, well, Heston wore a loincloth and I would be really uncomfortable in a loincloth. I had to wait it out six long weeks before the first wardrobe fitting. I went into the room and thank God, there was just a spacesuit there. I told Tim after that I was really nervous about it. Had he known that I was so nervous there probably would only have been a loincloth in the fitting room to pull a prank on me. I would have put it on. It would have taken me an hour to come out of the room and when I stepped out the door, George Clooney would be there with a bunch of other guys taking pictures, laughing and passing them all around town.

Teenhollywood: Everything else you've done has been reality-based. What did it feel like to get into something like this?

Mark: There were a couple of panic attacks. If it weren't Tim Burton, I wouldn't have been there. I think that's the case with most people in this film. It's an opportunity to work with Tim.

Teenhollywood: You were quoted somewhere as saying you freaked out the first day.

Mark: I did. It was horrifying. I've got this kid beside me with these tribal markings all over his face. He looks like something from the original Star Wars and then this hairy foot, it had to be about that big (indicates about a foot) just big bushels of hair coming out of it and then I looked up at the guy and he's in a gorilla outfit. It was like this is not the place for me. You know, it's put me in a room with a couple of people, I mean even back on the boat with George (Clooney of The Perfect Storm) which was the last place I wanted to be but I saw Tim and that was the reassurance I needed and it worked out.

Teenhollywood: Did you bond with a few ape actors in the movie?

Mark: I tried to. I tried to befriend them all. I was willing to serve them coffee and tea just so they'd be nice to me between action and cut but it didn't work. I started giving them a hard time early on though. I'd roll in at 7:30 and ask them what time they got there and they'd say 1:45 (a.m.). I'd say, I didn't get home until 2:30. I was out all night.

Teenhollywood: Were you a fan of the original movie and did you watch it again for this?

Mark: I wasn't a huge fan. I had seen it when I was a kid and then, in preparing for this role, I went back to watch it. I asked Tim first and he said 'Well, it's not gonna hurt but it's not gonna help'. Then I was pretty amazed at how great it was and saw why so many people loved it so much. When I was a kid, me and my dad were too busy watching gangster pictures to worry about some gorilla on a horse with a gun.

Teenhollywood: So you're not a science fiction fan?

Mark: Not at all. I once vowed never to do a sci-fi movie. It doesn't interest me. I need something I can relate to. This is the first time I've ventured into that world. It was about trusting Tim. His personality is amazing. Very few people have had a profound effect on me in my life and Tim is one of them. I got beat up every day and I still couldn't wait to get to the set just to be around him. I don't even know if he likes me and I don't care. He's amazing.

Teenhollywood: How do you feel about the way Tim handled the ending?

Mark: I thought it was fantastic. I thought he dealt with the original in a good way. Everything that everybody loved is there. As far as the ending is concerned, there are several doors left open but that's intentional and I think when people go back and see it again, they'll figure it out. I know there have been huge debates about the ending which is great. The only other time I've had a film ending talked about so much was Boogie Nights.

Teenhollywood: When you first started your film career, did you think you would go this far?

Mark: Well, I did, as an actor, because, I was committed to doing the work. As far as commercial success, I never really thought about it. It was always just about trying to grow as an actor and continuing to work with interesting people and learning more and more.

Teenhollywood: I heard somewhere that there was supposed to be a love scene in the movie between you and Ari (Helena Bonham Carter's ape character). What happened to that?

Mark: Me and Tim had talked about this relationship early on before I'd even seen the script. There was potential for it to go further and I just started talking in interviews…yeah, it's hard core. I was just messing around and people started to believe it and the next thing you know, we're at the junket and they are saying why did you cut out the scene and Tim was like 'What are you talking about?' And they'd say 'Oh, yeah, Mark was talking about Helen and a love scene' and he'd say 'Well, if we shot it I wasn't there that day'. We're gonna do something like that in the sequel I think. I was rooting for her to get in the ship with me.

Teenhollywood: What was it like working with the real chimps. Can they be pretty nasty to you?

Mark: Oh, they can be very nasty. But I spent a couple of weeks with them before we started shooting and they got really close to me. They were very protective of me and then they met Helen and she smells a little bit better than I do and they turned on me and attacked me one day but they were small, about 4 or 5 years old but they're still pretty strong. There were people there to pull them off.

Teenhollywood: Here you were stepping into Charlton Heston's original role. Now with the re-make of Charade you are stepping into Cary Grant's shoes. Do you think about that?

Mark: Yes but you're talking about Jonathan Demme calling you up saying he wants you for this part. I went, I looked at the original, called him back and said 'Are you sure you want me for this part?' He said 'Yeah'. I said 'Well, you know better than I do so why not?' It was the same thing with Tim so I never really thought about the pressure. It was about the opportunity to work with the filmmakers.

Teenhollywood: Did you slip into that suave, sophisticated thing easily?

Mark: Yeah. I got to speak tons of French. When we wrapped Planet of the Apes in Hawaii, I got on a plane and I was in Paris 18 hours later on the (Charade) set. Luckily, the end of Planet of the Apes was mostly the battle so I was allowed to study French and started to prepare. Tim was cool with me doing it.

Teenhollywood: What was it like working with the real chimps. Can they be pretty nasty to you?

Mark: Oh, they can be very nasty. But I spent a couple of weeks with them before we started shooting and they got really close to me. They were very protective of me and then they met Helen and she smells a little bit better than I do and they turned on me and attacked me one day but they were small, about 4 or 5 years old but they're still pretty strong. There were people there to pull them off.

Teenhollywood: Here you were stepping into Charlton Heston's original role. Now with the re-make of Charade you are stepping into Cary Grant's shoes. Do you think about that?

Mark: Yes but you're talking about Jonathan Demme calling you up saying he wants you for this part. I went, I looked at the original, called him back and said 'Are you sure you want me for this part?' He said 'Yeah'. I said 'Well, you know better than I do so why not?' It was the same thing with Tim so I never really thought about the pressure. It was about the opportunity to work with the filmmakers.

Teenhollywood: Did you slip into that suave, sophisticated thing easily?

Mark: Yeah. I got to speak tons of French. When we wrapped Planet of the Apes in Hawaii, I got on a plane and I was in Paris 18 hours later on the (Charade) set. Luckily, the end of Planet of the Apes was mostly the battle so I was allowed to study French and started to prepare. Tim was cool with me doing it.

Teenhollywood: You also have Rock Star coming out. Is it supposed to be the story of "Judas Priest?"

Mark: We never use their name. It's loosely based on the Ripper Owens story. He was a kid from Akron, Ohio who was lead singer in a "Judas Priest" tribute band and he eventually became the lead singer of "Judas Priest" which is an amazing story. We have all original music and the band's name is "Steel Dragon."

Teenhollywood: Where does music fit into your career now?

Mark: Well, I don't think it does right now but you never know. I saw the President of my record company (Interscope) last week and people are always talking. I've met with a couple of interesting people, some hip hop guys.

Teenhollywood: You've said that you liked the freedom though.

Mark: Yes, but it's gonna put me in jail. Yes, I liked being a retard and (when I was performing) if I didn't want to go to the show I wouldn't go. If I wanted to go on late, whatever I wanted to do but I can't live my life like that. I need the discipline of making films. It's been a good thing.

Teenhollywood: What would you like to see happen in a sequel to this movie?

Mark: I'd like to see them (Ari and Davidson) get together but I kind of know what's supposed to happen and I can't give that away. Part of it I like a lot. I'd like the story to take certain twists. I'd only sign on if Tim's in.

Teenhollywood: You had a pretty rough youth, got in trouble a lot. How do you handle it when people ask you about it?

Mark: If it makes people uncomfortable then it makes people uncomfortable. It's a big world out there and there's a lot of stuff going on. If they don't know about it they should. Not necessarily about me but what is going on in the world. People who don't know about it are usually more privileged than the people who are dealing with it (crime) every day so maybe they should take notice and do something about it instead of living in their own perfect world. I've never tried to hide my past. I've always focused on my future. Unfortunately, in the business and the world we live in today, most people are more interested in what's gone on in my past than what's going on in the present and what I plan for the future.

Teenhollywood: Living a "real" life can help your acting. Do you take that approach?

Mark: Yes. I have to. I've learned from my experiences and my mistakes and I would have liked to have gone back and done certain things differently but it made me the person I am today. You can't live life with regrets. It will make your life miserable.

Teenhollywood: Does it amaze you how your life has turned out?

Mark: Yeah. There's a part of me that says, well, it's supposed to happen like this and it's not a big deal but when you get an opportunity to look at all the different things that I've done, the good and the bad, it's pretty amazing. I think I've done more in 20 years than most people will in a lifetime and I have a lot more to do.
***
Interviewer and writer Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter. 

NEW YORK - For a guy who's just 30, Mark Wahlberg, star of the new "Planet of the Apes," has been out there, pursuing a variety of fabulous careers, for what seems like ages. 

He was the proto-hip-hopper, as teen-aged star of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Then he was a Calvin Klein model, posing in tighty-whities for a giant billboard high above Times Square.

And eventually he became a movie star, in films like "Boogie Nights" and "Three Kings."

But reporters can't help but ask Wahlberg about his past careers. Especially since the suddenly shy Mr. Underpants says he'd refused to star in the new "Planet of the Apes" unless director Tim Burton promised he wouldn't have to wear a loincloth, as his counterpart Charlton Heston did so winningly in the original 1968 "Planet of the Apes."

"The loincloth thing worked out my way," Wahlberg laughed last week. He appears in the film in a sort of distressed astronaut suit.

Q:What is it about you and loincloths?

A:I don't want to wear a loincloth. Do you want to wear a loincloth for seven months, and run around in bare feet?

Q:If we looked like you, maybe we would.

A:Well, (unconvincingly) I don't love the way I look. 

Q:Have you thought about doing music again? 

A:Well, (laughing) I have been been offered a clothing line. But no. I mean, I saw Puff Daddy in a restaurant, and he was like, "I know you want to do music again!" And I was like, "No, I don't." "You think about it all the time! I can see it in your eyes right now!" 

I think it was because we were listening to music, and I like music - but I can't bop my head to the music? I have to get up and pull my pants down and start rapping?

I'm 30 years old. I love listening to music, I have a studio in my house, I mess around every once in a while, but, to be in the music business . . . doesn't make sense for me.

It just seems like I'd rather be walking around in a loincloth on the streets of New York. 

Q:Theclothing line thing - were you kidding, or serious?

A:I was just kidding. But I have been asked.

Q:Wasit tempting?

A:(Firmly) No.

Q:What would you feel comfortable promoting?

A:Loincloths. Armani loincloths.

- Francesca Chapman 

(CNN) -- In his movie career, Mark Wahlberg has seen plenty of action. He's played a Persian Gulf War soldier (1999's "Three Kings"), a New England fishing boat mate ("The Perfect Storm," 2000) and a porn star (1997's "Boogie Nights"). 

But none of those films has offered the kind of pedal-to-the-metal, all-stops-out derring-do as his latest role, that of astronaut Leo Davidson in the new "Planet of the Apes." Wahlberg may not enter Indiana Jones territory, but he does get to crash-land a spacecraft, run through the jungle and lead a revolt -- not too bad for a human. 

Wahlberg sat down with "Showbiz Today Reports" correspondent Bill Tush to talk about his latest film. 

CNN: They're making a big deal the fact that Mark Wahlberg is doing his first action-hero role. Do you look at it that way? 

Mark Wahlberg: Yes, I noticed that; I don't know why. 

CNN: Would you consider it your first (action-hero role)? 

Wahlberg: Well, I've done other things in the past that have been action-oriented, but this is the first time it's me alone, (a) big movie and a much more heroic character. "Perfect Storm," for instance, had a lot of action but I end up dying. I lose the fight, so I'm not that heroic. 

CNN: I understand you just got a call out of the blue from (director) Tim Burton saying, "I want you to be the lead in this movie." And your reaction was? 

Wahlberg: Where do I sign? Where do I show up? What time? I'll be there early. 

Well, it didn't happen quite like that. He had called and he wanted to have a meeting, a general meeting and you know they had mentioned that he was doing this movie, "Planet of the Apes," but they never mentioned what character he was interested in me for. It was just about saying "hi" and lasted all of two minutes and I told him, "Tim, if you want me to do anything, just let me know and I'm there." 

And a couple days later he called me and then he told me ... they wanted me for the astronaut role, and then I said, "Well, wait a second -- Charlton Heston (star of the first "Planet," 1968) wears a loincloth the entire time. He's barefoot." ...Thank God he wasn't interested in seeing me in a loincloth. 

CNN: But you know, there are a lot of people out there who would like to see you in a loincloth. 

Wahlberg: Well, there's still a chance if there's a sequel. 

CNN: You're already thinking sequels. 

Wahlberg: Well, people have been asking, and you know they mentioned it and I said. "Well, if Tim's in, I'm in." That's a no- brainer. 

CNN: Things are going great for you. You're on the cover of Vanity Fair this month which is -- just by coincidence -- when the movie comes out. 

Wahlberg: Yeah, not bad, not bad. I mean, you know, I'm just trying to get the personal life worked out. But career-wise, yes, I couldn't be happier. 

CNN: What's wrong with the personal life? 

Wahlberg: Well, you know -- 30, single. 

CNN: Well, that's bad, I feel really sorry for you. 

Wahlberg: Well, I've got a mother to answer to, and parish priests constantly questioning me, so ... I think I'm getting ready ... I just have to find the right person. 

But career-wise, I couldn't be happier. I've been put in a position where I can really work with some interesting people. I have more to choose from and I don't have to worry about being tempted by you know the b.s. and the money and the bad movies because I don't have an interest in them. 

CNN: Good position to be in. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The updated ``Planet of the Apes'' outstripped the record for a non-holiday debut, taking in $68.5 million in its first weekend. 

Tim Burton's film edged the previous non-holiday record of $68.1 million set in May by ``The Mummy Returns.'' The all-time best holiday weekend opening is $72 million set over the three-day Memorial Day break in 1997 by ``The Lost World: Jurassic Park.'' 

The top 20 movies at North American theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. and ACNielsen EDI Inc.: 

1. ``Planet of the Apes,'' Fox, $68.5 million, 3,500 locations, $19,581 average, $68.5 million, one week. 
2. ``Jurassic Park III,'' Universal, $22.5 million, 3,439 locations, $6,555 average, $124.8 million, two weeks. 
3. ``America's Sweethearts,'' Sony, $15.4 million, 3,011 locations, $5,115 average, $59.1 million, two weeks. 
4. ``Legally Blonde,'' MGM, $9 million, 2,725 locations, $3,305 average, $59.8 million, three weeks. 
5. ``The Score,'' Paramount, $7.1 million, 2,211 locations, $3,190 average, $49.1 million, three weeks. 
6. ``Dr. Dolittle 2,'' Fox, $4.63 million, 2,188 locations, $2,118 average, $101.2 million, six weeks. 
7. ``Cats & Dogs,'' Warner Bros., $4.62 million, 2,816 locations, $1,640 average, $81.6 million, four weeks. 
8. ``The Fast and the Furious,'' Universal, $4.1 million, 2,385 locations, $1,715 average, $132.5 million, six weeks. 
9. ``Scary Movie 2,'' Miramax, $2.7 million, 2,179 locations, $1,247 average, $67.2 million, four weeks. 
10. ``Shrek,'' DreamWorks, $1.8 million, 1,439 locations, $1,246 average, $255.5 million, 11 weeks. 
11. ``Kiss of the Dragon,'' Fox, $1.77 million, 1,214 locations, $1,456 average, $33 million, four weeks. 
12. ``Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within,'' Sony, $1.3 million, 2,028 locations, $642 average, $30.3 million, three weeks. 
13. ``Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,'' Paramount, $1 million, 940 locations, $1,074 average, $128.5 million, seven weeks. 
14. ``A.I. Artificial Intelligence,'' Warner Bros., $943,536, 1,327 locations, $711 average, $76.7 million, five weeks. 
15. ``Atlantis: The Lost Empire,'' Disney, $863,892, 893 locations, $967 average, $79.4 million, eight weeks. 
16. ``Pearl Harbor,'' Disney, $826,872, 715 locations, $1,156 average, $193.7 million, 10 weeks. 
17. ``Baby Boy,'' Sony, $681,382, 491 locations, $1,388 average, $27.8 million, five weeks. 
18. ``Made,'' Artisan, $662,221, 105 locations, $6,307 average, $1.3 million, three weeks. 
19. ``The Closet,'' Miramax, $391,385, 98 locations, $3,994 locations, $1.8 million, five weeks. 
20. ``Moulin Rouge,'' Fox, $363,755, 356 locations, $1,022 average, $54 million, 11 weeks

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 30, 2001--In the spirit of the new rock 'n roll comedy ``Rock Star,'' starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Bel-Air Entertainment and VH1, have launched the Rock Star Tour Search, a national contest that offers undiscovered rock stars a chance to perform at the film's premiere and win a demo deal with Priority Records. 

Opening nationwide on Sept. 7, ``Rock Star'' tells the story of wannabe rock star Chris Cole (Wahlberg), who is plucked from obscurity and catapulted to fame when Steel Dragon, the rock band he worships, chooses him to replace their lead singer after seeing a videotape of Cole fronting his Dragon tribute band. 

Beginning Aug. 6, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., the Rock Star Tour Search will also hit Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, Dallas, Denver and Phoenix, where fans will be videotaped performing the original rock song ``Livin' the Life,'' written exclusively for the ``Rock Star'' soundtrack. 

Thirteen winners will be selected, one from each of the 12 tour stops and one chosen from mail-in entries. The winners will receive a shopping spree from the Gap, a VIP tour of Warner Bros. Studios, and travel to L.A. to attend the premiere of ``Rock Star'' with the film's stars in September. 

Out of these 13 contestants, three finalists will be chosen and their performances will be posted on VH1.com, where the public can cast their votes for their favorite wannabe rocker on Labor Day weekend. The finalist who rocks the most votes will win the Grand Prize: a ``Rock Star'' diamond necklace from FOPE Jewelry and a demo deal from Priority Records. The Grand Prize winner will also perform live at the ``Rock Star'' premiere party. 

Fans and contestants can go to VH1.com or rockstarmovie.com for national and local rules, as well as dates for each of the Tour Search city stops. 

The Rock Star Tour Search is sponsored by Bel-Air Entertainment, Guitar Center, FOPE Jewelry, Priority Records, the Gap, Virgin Megastore and VH1. 

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Bel-Air Entertainment, a Maysville Pictures Production of a Stephen Herek Film, ``Rock Star,'' starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. Directed by Stephen Herek from a screenplay by John Stockwell, the film is produced by Robert Lawrence and Toby Jaffe and also stars Jason Flemyng, Timothy Olyphant, Timothy Spall and Dominic West. ``Rock Star'' is executive produced by Steven Reuther, George Clooney and Mike Ockrent. Musicians who play featured roles in the film include Jason Bonham, Blas Elias, Stephan Jenkins, Jeff Pilson, Brian Vander Ark, Zakk Wylde and Nick Catanese. The director of photography is Ueli Steiger, production designer is Mayne Berke, costume designer is Aggie Guerard Rodgers and the editor is Trudy Ship. Budd Carr serves as music supervisor. The ``Rock Star'' soundtrack album will be released by Priority Records. 

``Rock Star'' will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company. This film has been rated ``R'' by the Motion Picture Association of America, for language, sexuality and some drug content. 

Visit www.rockstarmovie.com / AOL Keyword: Rock Star.