The Union Director Explains Why Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry Never Kissed

Netflix’s latest romcom spy thriller, “The Union,” centers on the romance between two high school sweethearts who have been separated: blue-collar construction worker Mike (Mark Wahlberg) and secret agent Roxanne (Halle Berry).

However, the duo never kisses during the film’s 109-minute length, a move that director Julian Farino claims “long debated” but eventually chosen to keep audiences interested.

“We develop the relationship to a certain stage, then allow ample space for it to evolve,” Farino told Variety at the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday night.

“Netflix advised from the outset that we consider this as a three-film series. If the audience is eager for more, then I believe we have done our job.”

Farino joined Berry, Wahlberg, and every “The Union” group member on the red carpet outside Hollywood’s Egyptian Theater to talk about how they made the Netflix action adventure a reality.

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The film follows “The Union,” a secret agency organization specializing in transforming ordinary citizens into dangerous agents.

After an international operation is put at risk, Roxanne goes to her home state of New Jersey to join her high school sweetheart Mike, whose insignificance and building knowledge make him an ideal addition to the squad.

Berry and Wahlberg mirrored Farino’s reasoning for missing the kiss. “Once they kiss, it is over. We’re hoping that if we get to do a second one, we can continue the catch,” Berry stated. “You want to witness the journey — to see these two high school sweethearts reconnect.”

Wahlberg agreed: “If we get to go on and do something else, I would think there will be a lot more than just a kiss.” But we’ll have to be patient and see what happens.

Along with the romance, “The Union” delivers plenty of practical action.

The film’s filming time was split between New Jersey, New York, London, and Slovenia, resulting in a diverse, unusual production in an increasingly conservative business. Berry was excited to be a part of a production that shot on-site rather than on sound stages.

“We might have been on a stage, pretending to be in places like Italy, London, or Croatia, but we actually got to visit these locations. I believe this adds to the film’s authenticity,” she explained.

“It helps performers get into the appropriate mood. And then we may have pleasure in our free time.”

“The Union” is now streaming on Netflix.

Official Trailer

The producers are Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Jeff Waxman.

Title: The Union.
Distributor: Netflix
Release Date: August 16, 2024 (Streaming)
Director: Julian Farino.
Screenwriters: Joe Barton, David Guggenheim.
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, Mike Colter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica De Gouw, Alice Lee, Jackie Earle Haley, J. K. Simmons, Lorraine Bracco, and Dana Delany
Rated: PG-13.
Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes.