Mark Wahlberg to produce, star in Boston Marathon Bombing film 'Patriot's Day'

Mark Wahlberg certainly is no stranger to Boston. Born and raised in Massachusetts' capital, he's worn his affections to the city for years on his sleeves. He'll take his pride to a new level, however, with his next project. He stars in and produces the upcoming Boston Marathon Bombing film Patriot's Day.

In a press release, via HitFlix, the new film was announced, with Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky to produce alongside Wahlberg and Matt Chapman (the upcoming Bridge of Spies) to pen the screenplay. The press release comes from CBS Films, who distributes the new feature.

Patriot's Day should not be confused with Boston Strong, the other Boston Marathon Bombing narrative film 20th Century Fox has in-the-works, to be directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safe House). Ironically enough, that film is scripted by The Fighter writers Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy. Both films hope to film this year.

Patriot's Day follows a personal account from Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, who, according to the press release, played "an integral role in working with the FBI, Watertown Police Department, Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and local first responders to track, identify and apprehend the suspected bombers."

It's envisioned as an intense thriller, as it spans the five-day search and siege of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. With that, Patriot's Day sounds more like Munich than a recount of the events during the bombing. This may help differentiate the films, especially if both come out next year.

"There is nothing more compelling than a real story populated by real heroes," Terry Press, president of CBS Films, said in the press release. "The team that we have assembled for this project is determined to give audiences a very personal look at what occurred during the days when the eyes of the world were on the city of Boston and how a group of contemporary patriots faced this crisis."

Patriot's Day is the first collaboration between 60 Minutes and CBS Films. At the moment, no director or screenwriter is attached or at least announced as involved with the film.

As an actor, Wahlberg comes back to his Boston roots again in Ted 2, released on June 26. He also reunites with his The Other Guys star Will Ferrell in Daddy's Home, scheduled to be released this year. He also returns to work with his Lone Survivor director Peter Berg for Deepwater Horizon, currently in pre-production. He also has a role in Mojave coming up as well.

Wahlberg the producer, meanwhile, has the Entourage movie coming out June 5, where he also has a cameo, and also worked on the film Stealing Cars and the upcoming HBO series Ballers. He also has a variety of projects in the works as well, and others he wants to make a reality, like a Boardwalk Empire movie, which he hopes Martin Scorsese directs.

Image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com