When it comes to anyone telling his life story in film again, Manny Pacquiao said he’d trust his good friend and actor Mark Wahlberg to lead production.
The ex-boxer-turned-senator-turned-boxer-again spoke to TMZ about who would helm any potential biopic projects about him in the future. “Mark Wahlberg… he always watched my training camp here in Wildcard,” Pacquiao said. “He knows almost all my life stories. [He’s] my friend, a nice guy.”
Although these may just be the boxer’s musings, especially since he’s currently busy preparing for his fight against welterweight title holder Mario Barrios this July 19, this would not be the first time Pacquiao has dabbled with taking on the silver screen. In 2006, director Joel Lamangan’s Pacquiao: The Movie, with Jericho Rosales starring as Pacquiao, was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics. The film did poorly at the box office, and currently has a 64 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
As for who he’d want to play himself in any upcoming biopic, Pacquiao chose none other than his own son Jimuel, who has also gone on to make a career for himself in boxing.
The former boxing champion is stepping out of retirement after falling short in his 2025 Senate bid. Pacquiao is also set to join Netflix reality competition series Physical: Asia, where he will represent the Philippines and compete against 100 contestants in a series of physically gruelling challenges.
