Mark Wahlberg's Pete Rose Movie Needs These Hollywood Stars

Fans share their dream cast for the upcoming biopic on the Cincinnati Reds legend.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:20am

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An abstract, minimalist illustration using bold, jagged black silhouettes against a stark white background, conveying the dramatic narrative of a baseball player's career.A conceptual poster captures the dramatic highs and lows of a baseball legend's storied career.Cincinnati Today

Mark Wahlberg is currently developing a movie about Pete Rose's time as a player-manager for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980s. The film is in the early stages of production, and Wahlberg is working on assembling the cast. The Enquirer spoke to people on the streets of Cincinnati to get their suggestions for who should play key roles, and also put together a dream cast of their own.

Why it matters

Pete Rose is a controversial figure in baseball history, known for his record-breaking career as a player but also his lifetime ban from the sport for betting on games. A biopic exploring this chapter of his life could provide insight into his complex legacy and the challenges he faced later in his career.

The details

Wahlberg said the film will focus on Rose's return to the Reds as a player-manager in the mid-1980s, after he was banned from baseball. During this time, Rose continued to play and manage the team until 1989. The Enquirer gathered suggestions from Cincinnati residents on who should portray Rose and other key figures in the movie, in addition to proposing their own dream cast.

  • Rose was a player-manager for the Reds from 1984 to 1986.
  • Rose continued as the Reds' manager until 1989.

The players

Mark Wahlberg

The actor and producer who is currently developing the Pete Rose biopic.

Pete Rose

The legendary Cincinnati Reds player and manager whose life and career is the subject of the upcoming biopic.

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What they’re saying

“We're talking about doing Pete Rose, right now. We've been actively developing (that movie) right now and speaking to filmmakers, so we've got a script.”

— Mark Wahlberg

What’s next

Wahlberg and the filmmakers will continue to work on casting the key roles for the Pete Rose biopic, with input from fans in Cincinnati and their own dream cast suggestions.

The takeaway

A Pete Rose biopic has the potential to explore the complex legacy of one of baseball's most controversial figures, providing insight into the challenges he faced later in his career. The casting of this film will be crucial in bringing Rose's story to life on the big screen.