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Burbank, CA – Based on Robert B. Parker’s iconic detective novels and in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the American crime drama series, Spenser: For Hire fans can once again experience every gripping moment with the release of Spenser: For Hire – The Complete Series on DVD, arriving September 9, 2025. For the first time, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment brings together all three seasons of this action-packed crime, mystery-drama in one comprehensive collection. Available both online and at major retailers nationwide, this definitive set is a must-have for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Pre-order your DVD copy or look for it on digital today.

In the shadows of Boston, Spenser (Robert Urich), a former cop with a poet’s soul and a fighter’s fists, solves crimes in his own uniquely stylish way. A true Renaissance man, he faces danger head-on, backed by his formidable ally, Hawk (Avery Brooks), and contacts within the police department.

Ed Harris did not come on like a clear-cut leading man 44 years ago when he starred in George A. Romero's awesomely offbeat "Knightriders," but there was something about the balding 32-year-old actor with the piercing, Paul Newman-esque blue eyes that commanded your attention. He could be steely, tender, and a bit of a goof. These qualities continued to be evident in films like "The Right Stuff," "Alamo Bay," and "Sweet Dreams," so he finally got a chance to co-anchor a massive Hollywood production in 1989 with James Cameron's "The Abyss." He aced the assignment (as did his co-star Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), but the film underperformed at the box office (even though it's still the best thing Cameron's ever directed), so he became more of a character actor throughout the 1990s while he personally developed his next leading role.

Harris made his directorial debut with "Pollock," a biopic about...

Tom Selleck is known for his work on hit shows like Magnum, P.I., and Blue Bloods. The latter series is slated to wrap its fourteen-season-long run with the upcoming finale that airs this week. As a result, Selleck’s turn as NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan is finally ending, leaving the actor ready to explore newer pastures.

Tom Selleck played Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods (Credits: CBS).

According to the actor himself, searching for those pastures might land him in Taylor Sheridan’s universe. The producer has delivered several hit Western shows and Selleck admitted that one actor’s involvement in Sheridan’s universe is why he is excited to join it. Here is what Selleck had to say about wanting to work with Sheridan and the actor he wants to reunite with.

Tom Selleck Wants to Work With Taylor Sheridan Because of One Actor

Tom Selleck rose to prominence...

Jesse Stone 10 has an easy way to reintroduce Viola Davis' Molly into the series. Davis played Jesse's deputy and friend Molly Crane in the first four Jesse Stone movies, exiting after 2007's Sea Change. Molly was a great role for Davis, but her career was starting to seriously take off during this period, thanks to roles in Doubt and Disturbia. She has since become one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation, fronting everything from Fences to The Woman King.

In the Jesse Stone movies, Molly was replaced by Kathy Baker's Rose, who would exit herself following a cameo in the eighth installment Benefit of the Doubt. Tom Selleck's busy schedule kept him from making more sequels in recent years, but Blue Bloods' ending means Jesse Stone 10 might finally happen. Assuming it does - and the odds are good that it will - longtime viewers will want...

Blue Bloods spoilers reveal that this is the last season of the show and the finale will soon be upon us. The final episode will air in December, 2024. However, that doesn’t mean that Tom Selleck is going to slide into retirement and disappear from our scenes. Selleck may already have his next project in the works.

The Former Magnum P.I. Actor Has Held Many Roles

Blue Bloods spoilers indicate that Selleck has worn many hats between Thomas Magnum and Frank Reagan.

Magnum P.I. Lasted rom 1980 to 1988 and won him five Emmy nominations and a win in 1985. Selleck also guest starred on Friends as Dr. Richard Burke. Selleck has been in numerous other roles as well.

Selleck began playing Frank Reagan in 2010, the NYC Police Commissioner on Blue Bloods as well as the patriarch of the Reagan Family.

Selleck considered not taking the role because in 2005 he had...

Blue Bloods is set to air its final episode in December. However, fans might not have seen the last of actor Tom Selleck just yet. In fact, the actor has already hinted at what his next project could be.

From Thomas Magnum To Frank Reagan, Tom Selleck’s Been Known By Many Names

For many fans, Selleck’s breakout role was playing Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I. from 1980 to 1988. The part earned him five Award nominations, with him winning in 1985. Since then, he’s had quite a few other notable roles, such as Dr. Richard Burke on Friends.

Starting in 2010, Selleck would take on the role of NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods. In addition to his work in law enforcement, Frank also serves as the patriarch of the Reagan family.

Tom Selleck – YouTube

Interestingly enough, Selleck was initially concerned about joining Blue Bloods since he was...

Tom Selleck's Jesse Stone and Jack Reacher have been compared to one another, but there's one line that the former would never cross. Before the arrival of Blue Bloods, the Jesse Stone TV movies were keeping Selleck busy. He made nine entries between 2005 and 2015, though with Blue Bloods ending there is renewed chatter about Jesse Stone 10. On the surface, Stone and Jack Reacher don't appear to share much in common - but appearances can be deceiving.

Reacher is a hulking, often monosyllabic brute who roams America and often gets into trouble, while Stone is a 60-year-old, alcoholic police chief in a small Massachusetts town that attracts an awful lot of crime. One major similarity is that both men want to see justice done - and they'll bend the rules to see that happen. Reacher is typically more direct in this regard (including the book where he bearhugs a man...

While his most iconic work will always be appearing in and as Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck, in his 50 years in Hollywood, has also achieved two long-standing roles as law enforcement officials the more iconic protagonist of Blue Bloods, which ended with season 14, and the titular character of the Jesse Stone film series, based on the novels written by Robert B. Parker and one of Selleck's often forgotten roles. Spanning a decade, the series comprises nine made-for-tv films, following the police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts as he investigates major crime in the seemingly quiet and undisturbed town.

Fired from his job with the LAPD due to a drinking problem which began after Jesse's divorce from his wife, he found a job in law enforcement in a quiet town near Boston. But all is not as it seems as Jesse gradually uncovers corruption and conspiracies to protect criminals and keep illegal...

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice broke a couple of franchise traditions - and ended on the bleakest note of the entire series. Thin Ice is the fifth entry in the Jesse Stone movie series, which adapted the Robert B. Parker novels of the same name. Parker gave Selleck two rules to follow while adapting Jesse Stone; one, Stone will always be hung up about his ex-wife Jenn, and two, he will always have a problem with drink (via TV Insider). This formula keeps the character trapped in a toxic loop, but Thin Ice needed to mix things up after four movies.

The TV movie features the same cast of characters - though Viola Davis' Molly left after the fourth entry Sea Change - as previous Jesse Stone movies, with Selleck's grizzled police chief looking into two cases. He's looking into who shot his friend Captain Healy (Stephen McHattie), and a cold...

The creator of Jesse Stone gave Tom Selleck two simple rules to follow when it came to adapting the character - but the tenth film should finally break them. Magnum, P.I. may remain Selleck's most famous role, but he's been fortunate to have a few across his decades-long career. There's also Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, which is drawing to a close after 14 seasons in 2024. There's also the Jesse Stone movie series; a collection of TV films that follow Selleck's titular police chief.

The original entry Stone Cold was a shock hit for CBS in 2005, leading to a run of sequels. The most recent was Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise, the only installment produced by The Hallmark Channel after CBS dropped the series. Selleck's Blue Bloods schedule kept him from returning to Jesse Stone, but now his schedule is freeing up, fans are hopeful he will don...

Tom Selleck's Jesse Stone franchise is perfect viewing for those waiting on Reacher season 3. While Tom Selleck has had hit movies like the Three Men and a Baby duology, TV is what made him a star. He famously had to pass on Raiders of the Lost Ark to star in Magnum, P.I., but this classic detective series still made his career. In recent years, Selleck has been best known for playing Frank Reagan on CBS series Blue Bloods, which will end in 2024 after a 14-season run.

Another of Selleck's best known roles is the titular character in the Jesse Stone movie series. Stone is a troubled former LAPD detective fired for his drinking issues and forced to take the role of a small town police chief role. The franchise began with 2005's Stone Cold - which was actually the fourth novel in author Robert B. Parker's book...

With Blue Bloods ending in December, Tom Selleck is open to bringing Jesse Stone back to the small screen. Selleck starred in nine films featuring the character. The first eight films aired on CBS from 2005 until 2012, with the ninth film airing on Hallmark Channel in 2015. A 10th movie was being considered back in 2017 but hasn't been made yet.

Based on Robert B. Parker's novels, the movies follow Stone (Selleck), a retired police detective from the Paradise Police Department in Massachusetts. The movies' cast have also included Kohl Sudduth, Kathy Baker, Viola Davis, Vito Rezza, Stephen McHattie, William Devane, Saul Rubinek, and William Sadler.

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Trouble is a Swedish action crime comedy film directed by Jon Holmberg who also co-wrote the screenplay with Tapio Leopold. The Netflix film follows the story of a clumsy divorced electronic salesman who is wrongfully convicted of murder and sent to prison. To prove his innocence he escapes from prison with other convicts. Trouble stars Filip Berg, Amy Deasismont, Eva Melander, Måns Nathanaelson, Dejan Čukić, Joakim Sällquist, and Sissela Benn. So, if you loved the blend of crime and comedy, compelling characters, and a thrilling story in Netflix’s Trouble here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Lovebirds (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Netflix

The Lovebirds is a romantic crime comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay co-written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall. The 2020 film revolves around a young couple...

As CBS’ prepares to unspool Blue Bloods‘ final eight episodes, Tom Selleck is mulling a return to Paradise.

Years prior to Blue Bloods‘ 2010 debut, Selleck starred in Jesse Stone: Stone Cold, the first of what would be nine made-for-tv movies based on Robert B. Parker’s novels about the titular police chief of Paradise, Mass., a small New England town.

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The Jesse Stone franchise consists of nine feature films, and viewers who are new to the series might be wondering what the best way to watch the Jesse Stone movies in order. While some detective series installments work as one-off or standalone viewing experiences, successfully watching the adaptations of Robert B. Parker's novels benefits from a more intentional approach. With eight films from CBS (200512) and another movie from the Hallmark Channel (2015), the Jesse Stone series boasts a lot of characters and lore.

Magnum P.I. original series star Tom Selleck helms all nine films in the franchise. In Stone Cold, the first Jesse Stone movie, Selleck's titular character is a former Los Angeles homicide detective who relocates to small-town Massachusetts after being fired from the force for his habitual alcohol use. Full of genre tropes, the made-for-tv crime dramas offer up...

The popularity of the Western genre has endured for decades, with some of the greatest films in the genre having literary roots. Authors like Lauran Paine and Ron Hansen have successfully captured the gritty landscape and character types of the Western genre in their writing and directors have elevated their work with the use of their film knowledge. The Old West provides an ideal setting for themes of conflict and individualism. Directors like John Ford and the Coen brothers use their skills to actualize such factors in the visual medium.

Oftentimes, it's books that have already attempted to expand the Western genre that inspire innovative directors because of their added components of other genres like comedy and crime. Unlike some of the worst book-to-film adaptations, many of those in the Western genre are faithful to the original text. There are countless examples of Western films inspired by books, but a...

Based on the novels by the late author Robert B. Parker, the made-for-tv Jesse Stone movies chronicle the life of a dysfunctional police chief as he fights crime and his own demons in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Starring Blue Bloods' Tom Selleck (who almost starred as Indiana Jones), most of these films can be streamed on various platforms.

With nine Jesse Stone movies released since 2005 (and a long-hoped-for 10th installment looking more likely now that Blue Bloods is gearing up for its final season), it can be a bit daunting to watch the entire series. That is especially true because the second installment is technically a prequel that sets up the first. Watching the Jesse Stone movies in order by the timeline arguably makes for the best viewing experience, allowing viewers to better appreciate Stone's journey as a police chief.

Updated by Christopher Raley on July 18, 2024: The...

Viola Davis exited Jesse Stone to focus on her film career, leading to her success with major roles in movies like Doubt. Molly Crane left the force in Sea Change and moved to L.A. to start a family. While it's uncertain if Viola Davis would return for Jesse Stone 10, fans still hope for a cameo.

Viola Davis made an early exit from the Jesse Stone series, but would she ever return as Molly Crane? Tom Selleck has had some notable hits on the big screen like Three Men and a Baby, but he's best known for his television work. Magnum P.I. famously cost him the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it's still it's the show that made him a star. In addition to fronting many Western TV movies like Monte Walsh in the years following Magnum P.I., the star fronted another...

Tom Selleck's commitment to Blue Bloods hindered his return to the Jesse Stone series. The last Jesse Stone movie was released in 2015, with Selleck expressing interest in another entry. Fans should expect an update on Jesse Stone 10 after Blue Bloods wraps up.

Now that Blue Bloods is wrapping up, Tom Selleck can finish off his other TV franchise after a decade-long break. It's part of the movie's lore that Raiders of the Lost Ark almost cast Tom Selleck as Indiana Jones, but the latter's commitment to the Magnum P.I. pilot forced him to drop out. Of course, it was Magnum P.I. that made Selleck's career. This CBS series was a huge hit and allowed the star to branch out to movie work like Three Men and a Baby.

The star has had some hits on the big screen, but audiences know Selleck best for his TV work like Magnum P.

Jesse Stone is a far cry from Thomas Magnum. With over five decades in the business, Tom Selleck stepped into another career-defining role as the titular character in the made-for-tv movie franchise Jesse Stone. The series is based on the characters of a 21-book crime novel series by Robert B. Parker. For over a decade, Selleck stepped into the shoes of a brooding, weathered police chief with a past of his own. Premiering primarily on CBS and rerunning on Hallmark Channel, these TV movies were a hit with audiences.

City Hunter is an action comedy film directed by Yûichi Satô from a screenplay by Tsukasa Hôjô and Tatsuro Mishima. Based on a popular manga series of the same name by Tsukasa Hojo, the Netflix film follows the story of a private investigator as he teams up with his late partner’s sister to solve his mysterious murder which is connected to a deadly conspiracy. So, if you loved the style, humor, action, and philandering ways of Ryo Saeba in City Hunter, here are some similar films you could watch next.

City Hunter Credit – Golden Harvest

31 years before Suzuki Ryohei took on the role of the philandering Ryo Saeba, the legendary Jackie Chan also starred as the main character in another adaptation of the popular manga by Tsukasa Hojo. Directed by Jing Wong, the 1993 film follows the story of a lustful private investigator who is searching for a missing girl...

Somewhere, at this very moment, someone's dad is probably watching one of the Jesse Stone movies on DVD, and that man is having a great afternoon. After this, he might pop in "Ford v. Ferrari" for the seventh time.

The character of Jesse Stone began his life in a series of airport novels written by the late Robert B. Parker. The first Jesse Stone novel, "Night Passage," was published in 1997 and it followed the titular former LAPD detective (and divorced recovering alcoholic) as he investigated money laundering and murder in Paradise, Massachusetts. Parker had a hit on his hands with "Night Passage," and proceeded to writer eight additional Jesse Stone novels from 1998 up until his death in 2010. Jesse Stone had become an institution at that point, and other authors began writing Stone novels in Parker's style. There have been 11 additional Jesse Stone novels written after Parker's death. 

Starting in 2005, Jesse...

It's not often that made-for-tv movies are actually good enough to warrant a sequel, let alone a plethora of them. Sure, the Hallmark Channel may be known for its recurring movie series, but that's not exactly true for prime-time networks like CBS. Yet, for nearly a decade, that's exactly what former Magnum P.I. and current Blue Bloods star Tom Selleck and CBS did with their live-action adaptation of the popular Jesse Stone detective novels written originally by Robert B. Parker. And believe it or not, these TV movies beat out some of your favorites in the ratings game.

Tom Selleck is well-known for his TV work on Blue Bloods but also starred in detective novel adaptations as Jesse Stone. Jesse Stone movies follow the character's journey as a disgraced homicide detective facing corruption in a small town. The Jesse Stone movies are best watched in release date order to follow the character's arc and long-term storytelling.

Even though the actor has had a long and storied career for the past 50-plus years that has included such shows and movies as Magnum P.I and Three Men and a Baby, actor Tom Selleck is well known these days for his TV work on a weekly CBS family cop drama known as Blue Bloods. Along with cast members Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan, this long-running series has captivated primetime fans with its endearing tale of the Reagan family, who are tasked with continuously saving NYC from all sorts of criminal activity.

Tom Selleck's absence from the Magnum P.I. reboot was never a serious plan but rather a light-hearted idea that fans hoped for. Selleck's successful post-Magnum P.I. career made it difficult for him to make a guest appearance on the reboot. The absence of Selleck's Magnum in the reboot is a respectful acknowledgement of his evolving legacy and the complexities of television production.

Magnum P.I. reboot attempted to recapture the magic of the original 1980s series starring Tom Selleck as the suave Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum. Yet, despite fans' hopes and speculations, a cameo from Selleck never materialized. The brains behind the reboot, Eric Guggenheim, recently provided insight into the matter.

Guggenheim admitted in a forthright interview with TVLine post-finale that the notion of Selleck's guest appearance was more of a light-hearted musing than an actual plan. He remarked, This revelation might come as a surprise to...

Tom Selleck never made a cameo in the Magnum P.I. reboot. Showrunner Eric Guggenheim revealed that they joked about that possibility very early on in the first season. He goes on to say that they knew a Selleck cameo was never a real possibility.

The showrunner of the Magnum P.I. reboot has reflected on Tom Selleck never having a cameo in the show. Selleck starred as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum in the original show, which ran on CBS for eight seasons between 1980 and 1988. The show was rebooted in 2018 with Jay Hernandez in the lead role, running for four seasons on CBS before being cancelled, then picked up by NBC for a fifth and final season.

TVLine recently sat down with Magnum P.I. reboot showrunner Eric Guggenheim following the airing of the series finale. He was asked why Selleck never ended up appearing on the show, perhaps as Robin Masters,...

It’s been over seven years since audiences could tune in for Tom Selleck’s latest turn as Jesse Stone in the ongoing series of movies based on Robert B. Parker’s novels. Nine installments in a decade is certainly a respectable run, especially considering a third of them were when Selleck was also a series regular on Blue Bloods. Despite the fact that the character is 35 in his debut novel, decision makers went with 60-year-old Selleck, a household name since the ‘80s thanks to Magnum, P.I. & Three Men and a Baby (among other things), for the role and it’s no mystery why. As for that bountiful police work, well, things can get pretty tough and that’s obviously where the canine companions and a drinking problem come in.

Blue Bloods, a long-running procedural drama centered around the Reagan police family, will be ending after its fourteenth season. This news has come as a shock to loyal fans of the show. However, for those who will miss Tom Selleck's character, Frank Reagan, there is another series of films called Jesse Stone that might interest them. Selleck plays the rough and tough character of Jesse Stone, a detective in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts. The Jesse Stone movies, based on Robert B. Parker's novels, offer slower-paced but detailed stories with compelling dialogue, visual detail, and strong character chemistry. They are easily available to stream on various platforms or as a DVD box set.

Originally premiering over ten years ago on CBS, the episodic procedural drama that surrounded the Reagan police family called Blue Bloods instantly found success on cable television. The long-lived series wasn’t only praised...

Blue Bloods is gearing up for another season, with the main cast set to return. The series, which is currently in the middle of airing season 13, follows the Reagan family, a dynasty of law enforcement officers led by patriarch Frank (Tom Selleck). The series, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2013, premiered on CBS in 2010 and has now aired 269 episodes.

Per Deadline, Blue Bloods season 14 has been renewed ahead of the season 13 finale on May 19. Selleck is set to return for the new season, along with the rest of the main cast. This includes The Sixth Sense's Donnie Wahlberg as Detective Danny Reagan, Coyote Ugly's Bridget Moynahan as Ada Erin Reagan, and American Dreams' Will Estes as Officer/Sergeant Jamie Reagan​​​​​​​.

Has Blue Bloods Officially Become Tom Selleck's Most Iconic Role?

Tom Selleck is an iconic performer who has held many roles since his career began in the late 1960s.

Prime Video is hoping to launch its own extended franchise universe in April with the premiere of international spy series “Citadel” from the minds of the Russo Brothers. The show stars Richard Madden, Priyanka Chopra, and Stanley Tucci, and is intended to be the first block of an interconnected story with different spinoffs in countries and regions around the world. The first version will begin streaming on April 28. In the show, the world is in the grips of Manticore, a criminal organization, and several former spies are recruited to restore order despite having their memories erased.

Watch the trailer for “Citadel”:

Beloved young adult author Judy Blume opened the door to discussion about difficult subjects for generations of kids. Now, the writer is the subject of a new documentary, “Judy Blume Forever,” coming to Prime Video on April 21. The doc looks at her trajectory — from a scared kid to...

“Who are those guys?”

Why, it’s Regé-Jean Page and Glen Powell, recent breakouts from “Bridgerton” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” and they’ve just been announced as new spins on the late 60s, anti-establishment, true Western buddy classic, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

The project was announced on Thursday as a series for Amazon Prime Video. Its official title is not yet known and the facts are few, other than that the project will be shepherded by Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” the second and fifth biggest worldwide box office earners in history.

Initial scripts are being written by cousins Kaz and Ryan Firpo, best known for their work on Marvel’s “Eternals.” The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the project is “envisioned as a larger franchise with multiple series and spinoffs.”

George Roy Hill’s 1969 film (written by William Goldman) starring Paul Newman,...

The Jesse Stone movies are some of the best recent additions to the crime genre. The film follows the titular character, played by Tom Selleck, as he solves crimes in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts.

While the movies are procedural, they also offer a deep and complex look at human relationships and the darker side of human nature. For example, the Jesse Stone movies are gripping tales of crime and suspense, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Each movie is entirely fascinating, and you’ll find yourself rooting for Jesse every step of the way. If you’re looking for great tv movies, be sure to watch Jesse Stone Movies. There are nine films in the Jesse Stone franchise; you won’t get bored soon.

Here is the list of all nine Jesse Stone movies in order of the release date.

All Nine Jesse Stone Movies...

Exclusive: Netflix has preemptively acquired a new feature thriller pitch from screenwriter Sean O’Keefe to be produced by Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho. The project is billed as being in the spirit of Ron Howard’s 1996 action kidnap thriller hit Ransom but with a female bent.

The new project reps a reteaming of Netflix and O’Keefe who co-penned the Mark Wahlberg action-comedy Spenser Confidential, which is the third most-watched movie on the streamer with 85 million households after Sam Hargrave’s Extraction at 99 million and Susanne Bier’s Bird Box starring Sandra Bullock which drew 89 million. Directed by Peter Berg, Spenser Confidential stars Mark Wahlberg as Boston ex-cop, Spenser, who teams up with his no-nonsense roommate, Hawk (Winston Duke), after two Boston police officers are murdered. O’Keefe co-wrote with Brian Helgeland based on the 2013 novel Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland by author Ace Atkins.

Adam Kassan and Rafi Crohn of...

The Quinn Colson novels by Ace Atkins are being developed as a TV series at HBO, Variety has learned exclusively.

In the books, Colson is a former Army Ranger who returns to his home in rural northeast Mississippi. But upon returning, he discovers that where he grew up has been overrun with corruption, drugs, and violence.

There are currently 10 novels in the Quinn Colson series, starting with “The Ranger.” Others include “The Lost Ones,” “The Broken Place,” “The Forsaken,” and “The Redeemers.”

In addition to writing the Quinn Colson novel series, Atkins also took over Robert B. Parker’s Spenser character following Parker’s death in 2010. He has written eight novels in the Spenser series since. That includes “Wonderland,” which was subsequently adapted into the Mark Wahlberg-Winston Duke film “Spenser Confidential.” Atkins is a former newspaper reporter and SEC football player who also writes essays and investigative pieces for various publications.

Exclusive: In a seven-figure deal, Netflix has acquired Our Man From Jersey, a star vehicle for Mark Wahlberg that will be scripted by Safe House writer David Guggenheim. Described as a blue collar 007, the film will be produced by Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson, who hatched the idea. Deals are being wrapped up now.

All of the participants are in business with Netflix. Wahlberg and Levinson are just coming off Spenser Confidential, inspired by the Robert B. Parker Spenser For Hire novels. That film was seen in part or whole by 85 million, making it the second most watched feature film for Netflix. Wahlberg and Levinson have been using the downtime to take a lot of FaceTime meetings with writers; one of them was with Guggenheim, and it all quickly clicked. They handed in a 36-page outline and the deal resulted from that. Ori Marmur is steering for Netflix.

Guggenheim is creator...

Despite playing a character who’s appeared in over 40 novels, a couple TV series and multiple TV movies, Spenser Confidential star Winston Duke had no interest in mining the past for inspiration. Based on Robert B. Parker’s Spenser detective novels, Spenser Confidential pairs Mark Wahlberg’s Spenser and Duke’s Hawk as they take matters into their own hands in order to seek justice for the murders of two Boston police officers.

For Duke and his version of Hawk, he knew he had to start “from scratch” in an effort to reflect a character who lives in a ...

Despite playing a character who’s appeared in over 40 novels, a couple TV series and multiple TV movies, Spenser Confidential star Winston Duke had no interest in mining the past for inspiration. Based on Robert B. Parker’s Spenser detective novels, Spenser Confidential pairs Mark Wahlberg’s Spenser and Duke’s Hawk as they take matters into their own hands in order to seek justice for the murders of two Boston police officers.

For Duke and his version of Hawk, he knew he had to start “from scratch” in an effort to reflect a character who lives in a ...

Director Peter Berg and star Mark Wahlberg putting their collaborative stamp on the Spenser novels (as well as the television show Spenser: For Hire) was always going to go one of two ways. Either their cinematic style would take the character and property in interesting new directions, or their version wouldn’t vibe. Well, Spenser Confidential falls way more into the latter category than the former. As a throwaway Netflix release, this has some mild charms. As a Berg/Wahlberg collaboration, it’s one of their most forgettable. It all adds up to a final product that never really makes a compelling case for its own existence. Sadly, it’s nothing more than instantly forgettable. The film is a comedic action outing, while more or less functioning as an origin story, as well. We meet Spenser (Wahlberg) right as he’s about to become an ex-cop. Having savagely beaten his...

Spenser (Mark Wahlberg, at his most Mark Walbergiest) is an former Boston cop who’s just finished doing a five-year stretch in Walpole — he beat the ever-loving crap out of his commanding officer, see, and to be fair the guy was a domestic abuser and wicked crooked, but the police don’t take kindly to such things even if you do wear the shield. In fact, the ex-con is persona non grata with the boys in blue. The day before he’s set to get out, Spenser (whose name is pronounced “Spen-sahhh,...

There’s nothing confidential about the fact that for every movie as quality as The Irishman that Netflix releases, they drop about five as mediocre as Spenser Confidential. Based on the series of novels by Robert B. Parker, later adapted as a television show starring Robert Urich, Spenser Confidential is the kind of movie that you’d be livid spending money to see at the cinema, but you’ll shrug off and forget about five minutes after streaming it. Even Mark Wahlberg, who stars as the titular Spenser, seems bored with the film.

Set in Boston (because where else would a Mark Wahlberg vehicle be set?), Spenser Confidential centers on Spenser, a recently released convict and ex-police officer. Spenser was thrown in jail after assaulting the captain of his precinct, and on the day of Spenser’s release, that same captain is murdered. The murder is pinned on a young...

“Man, you get beat up a lot,” an aspiring boxer tells the eponymous punching bag/pulp-fiction private eye Mark Wahlberg plays in “Spenser Confidential.” “And I’ve noticed every single time you get your face pushed in, you come back with just a little bit more information.” That’s a pretty apt description of Spenser’s modus operandi, and one of several self-aware winks that makes this genre-bruising made-for-Netflix action vehicle a lot more fun, if not nearly as respectable, as Wahlberg’s four previous collaborations with director Peter Berg.

In those films — which include a trio of panic-attack true-story thrillers, “Lone Survivor,” “Deepwater Horizon” and “Patriots Day” — Wahlberg and Berg seemed to be reaching for some kind of awards-season legitimacy. Here, on the other hand, they’re just cutting loose,

Conceived by author Robert B. Parker, the Spenser character first appeared on-screen around the same time as those films,...

A far cry from the previous four movies that Mark Wahlberg and director Peter Berg have made together (the two men Voltron-ing into a single creative entity that will henceforth be referred to as “WahlBerg”), the hilariously titled “Spenser Confidential” is a high-testosterone action thriller about a red-blooded, blue-collared, perpetually open-mouthed American patriot who decides to take matters into his own hands when some bad guys besmirch the good name of these United States. Just kidding — the only significant difference between this chaotic dreck and the likes of “Mile 22” is that “Spenser Confidential” is going straight to Netflix.

Beyond that — and maybe a surprising cameo from Post Malone — . By now, WahlBerg making a “funny” crime movie about an aggro ex-cop trying to sniff out corruption in South Boston is like if Wes Anderson made a “Succession”-esque screwball comedy about an inbred family jostling for control over a Bavarian tweed factory.

Post Malone may not have physically been at the premiere to celebrate his acting debut in “Spenser Confidential” on Thursday night in Los Angeles (due to a performance on his Runaway Tour in Washington D.C.), but the Grammy-nominated rapper was definitely there in spirit. As star Mark Wahlberg walked the black carpet outside the Regency Village Theatre, a video of Malone appeared on mini-screens at the venue.

“Sorry I couldn’t be at the premiere tonight,“ Malone said in the video. “I love you so much, but I Postmated something very special to make up for it.”

A black truck soon arrived, delivering hundreds of burgers from Wahlberg’s restaurant Wahlburgers for guests at the event.

“I didn’t know. That was a nice surprise,” Wahlberg told Variety as the burgers were being handed out. “Posty and I have been friends for a long time and I know Posty...

Post Malone plays a prison inmate in the trailer for Spenser Confidential, the upcoming Netflix action-comedy film from director Peter Berg. Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Alan Arkin and Iliza Shlesinger star in the movie, which hits the streaming platform on March 6th.

The clip opens with imprisoned Boston detective Spenser (Wahlberg) getting into a brawl with a group of fellow inmates. From there, he’s released from jail and links up with his former mentor and boxing coach, Henry (Arkin), and a new roommate, aspiring Mma fighter Hawk (Duke). When...

Netflix has released the first trailer for Spenser Confidential. This is the latest collaboration between director Peter Berg and actor Mark Wahlberg. The two previously worked together on movies such as Lone Survivor, Patriots Day and Deepwater Horizon. This time around, Wahlberg is paired up with Us and Black Panther star Winston Duke for what looks to be both a throwback to cop movies of old and a very modern action/thriller.

The trailer kicks off with Mark Wahlberg as Spenser, getting out of prison, but not before getting into a sizable fist fight, with rapper Post Malone, rather surprisingly, amongst them. Things don't go particularly well for him in his first hours outside of lock-up, as his girlfriend has moved on and he's got an unexpected roommate cramping his style. And, as we come to find out, there are some very dangerous people after him. It then turns into...

The career of Peter Berg is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. There’s the throwback highs of The Rundown and strong drama of Friday Night Lights mixed with sturdy biographical films such as Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon then incomprehensible actioners like Battleship and Mile 22. He’s now back quickly after the quickly forgotten lattermost film and reteaming once again with Mark Wahlberg.

Spenser Confidential, also starring Winston Duke, Alan Arkin, Iliza Shlesinger and Austin Post, follows an ex-cop who serves some jail time after being framed by dirty cops and upon getting out, serves up some vigilante justice. Berg looks to be in a more playful mode here while still delivering the action beats he’s known for, so hopefully this is some diverting entertainment.

See the trailer and poster below.

Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) – an ex-cop better known for making trouble than solving it – just...

Another day, another Netflix original movie. The streaming giant just premiered Tyler Perry’s “A Fall From Grace” over the weekend, which IndieWire senior film critic Eric Kohn called “a trashy Hitchcock riff.” It’s one of about half-a-dozen Netflix original movies premiering in January, and merely a taste of what’s to come throughout 2020.

The studio has now released the first trailer for “Spenser Confidential,” an upcoming action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke, directed by Peter Berg from a script by Sean O’Keefe. It is based on the best-selling novel “Wonderland” by Ace Atkins, and on the Spenser character created by Robert B. Parker. The late Robert Ulrich played the first on-screen version of the character in the “Spenser: For Hire” television series, broadcast on ABC from 1985 until 1988.

The new Netflix film stars, which is scheduled to be released on March 6, 2020, co-stars Post Malone, Alan Arkin, Iliza Shlesinger,...

Another day, another Netflix original movie. The streaming giant just premiered Tyler Perry’s “A Fall From Grace” over the weekend, which IndieWire senior film critic Eric Kohn called “a trashy Hitchcock riff.” It’s one of about half-a-dozen Netflix original movies premiering in January, and merely a taste of what’s to come throughout 2020.

The studio has now released the first trailer for “Spenser Confidential,” an upcoming action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke, directed by Peter Berg from a script by Sean O’Keefe. It is based on the best-selling novel “Wonderland” by Ace Atkins, and on the Spenser character created by Robert B. Parker. The late Robert Ulrich played the first on-screen version of the character in the “Spenser: For Hire” television series, broadcast on ABC from 1985 until 1988.

The new Netflix film stars, which is scheduled to be released on March 6, 2020, co-stars Post Malone, Alan Arkin, Iliza Shlesinger,...

Joseph Baxter Jan 20, 2020

Mark Wahlberg actioner Spenser Confidential will premiere on Netflix, arriving as a new adaptation of Spenser: For Hire.

Spenser Confidential is the next action thriller feature fielded by star Mark Wahlberg under the direction of Peter Berg, following their last effort, 2018’s Mile 22. However, this offering will manifest not at theaters, but on Netflix!

Interestingly, the film is an adaptation of the Spenser novel series of author Robert B. Parker, which were more famously represented on television with ABC’s popular 1985-1988 series, Spenser: For Hire, which was briefly spun-off in 1989 with the short-lived A Man Called Hawk. This film, however, bears a script by Brian Helgeland and Sean O'Keefe adapting the Wonderland series by Ace Atkins, which continued the Spenser mythos after Parker’s 2010 death.

Wahlberg stars as eponymous freelance sleuth Spenser, a role famously played on TV by the late Robert Urich. He's joined here...

Mark Wahlberg may be one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood at the moment, but that does not mean that there aren't many, many people who would relish the opportunity to see him take an onscreen beating. Well, you may now have that chance, as director Peter Berg says his upcoming movie, Spenser Confidential features just that very thing. By the sounds of it, Wahlberg is due to get his butt kicked, and get his butt kicked quite a lot.

"He gets the (stuffing) beat out of him about every 15 minutes. It's very enjoyable."

Though every 15 minutes sounds perhaps a little excessive, director Peter Berg seems to have enjoyed every stuffing beating second of it. You might even say that Berg got quite a kick out of seeing his leading man land on the receiving end of so many beatings, as according to him, this allowed Wahlberg to lean heavily into his comedic side.