Mark Wahlberg said he would like one of the Hemsworth brothers to portray the three Maclean brothers in a feature film about their record‑breaking non‑stop row across the Pacific Ocean.
Wahlberg, speaking on Australian radio show The Kyle and Jackie O Show, praised Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean as “the real deal” and said the Scot siblings’ voyage was “like a real‑life perfect storm.” He suggested the physical likeness of the Macleans — ages 33, 31 and 27 — made Chris, Liam or Luke Hemsworth suitable to play them on screen and said the project could be fast‑tracked if the actors were interested.
The Macleans completed what was described as the fastest non‑stop rowing challenge across the Pacific, covering roughly 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia over 139 days. The brothers returned to home soil this week after the voyage, which attracted international attention for its hazards and its charitable goal: more than £1 million was raised for clean water projects in Madagascar.
Wahlberg said he first contacted the Macleans by phone 54 days into their journey to offer support, calling them “badasses” for taking on a challenge he said he would never attempt himself. He told the crew that their story had strong cinematic potential and suggested a screenplay could be completed in three to four months, with the movie potentially moving forward within a year if the Hemsworth brothers agreed to participate.
The Macleans have already been the subject of a documentary. Jamie Maclean called Wahlberg’s outreach “completely and utterly surreal,” saying the actor’s kindness and enthusiasm had made him “feel like a mate.” Jamie said talk of a Hollywood movie was another unexpected development after the documentary and that the Hemsworths would be “more than welcome” to try a row in Scotland to learn what the brothers do.
Actor Ewan McGregor also contacted the crew while they were at sea, telling them he was “really inspired.” Wahlberg said the story’s emotional finish — the moment the rowers first saw land again and were reunited with family on the dock — reinforced its appeal for a mainstream audience.
Representatives for the Hemsworth brothers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Wahlberg’s comments followed widespread media coverage of the Macleans’ voyage, which combined endurance sport, rescue incidents and fundraising to draw attention from figures across the entertainment industry.
The Macleans’ voyage and fundraising totals were confirmed by statements released after their arrival. Any development toward a feature film would require formal agreements with the rowers and interested actors, as well as rights arrangements and financing, none of which have been announced.