Uncharted – behind the scenes stunt doubling Mark Wahlberg

My Uncharted Adventure in Berlin as Mark Wahlberg’s Stunt Double

Lights, camera, adrenaline! Imagine being right in the heart of the action, working on the set of one of the most highly anticipated movie of the year, Uncharted, as Mark Wahlberg’s stunt double. My recent adventure took me to the captivating city of Berlin, where I had the thrilling opportunity to execute some highly technical wire work stunts and participate in some intense fight scenes. But amidst the adrenaline-pumping work, I made sure to make the most of my downtime, exploring Berlin’s rich culture and indulging in some of my favourite activities like rock climbing, skydiving, and paddle boarding in the picturesque lakes of Potsdam.

I have to say the scale of the production was breathtaking, with meticulously designed sets that transported you around the world, from underground tombs in the jungle to Spanish galleon ships that were flown through the air by helicopters, the Art department team really went all out.

Wire work stunts were the epitome of exhilaration during my time on the set. My two biggest gags as we call them in the business were deploying a parachute from the back of a Hercules plane and then falling head first through a man hole into a underground catacomb. Thanks to the incredible rigging team we were able to do both stunts safely and repeatable. The Parachute deployment was created using a very powerful computer controlled winch, and the Catacomb drop was more traditional rigging with a twist. We used a gold tail, which is a manual method to drop a person with control and then it had a quick release system built in allowing me to hit the stairs at the bottom and go into a series of rolls to make it all the way down. The final shot was incredible and we got it in one take! Only for the film to come out and that whole scene was removed. This is the hard part of my job where you do something physically and mentally that pushes you and it doesn’t make it to the final edit, Believe it or not this happens often in big feature films.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of working on the film set, I made sure to soak in the vibrant culture of Berlin during my downtime. The city’s rich history, diverse art scene, and lively nightlife provided the perfect balance to the high-octane workdays. I bought myself a bicycle and rode to work and back each day to feel more like a local. Exploring iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall left me in awe of the city’s resilience and beauty.

Berlin’s charm extended beyond its cultural offerings; it also served as a perfect playground for adrenaline enthusiasts like me. After long days on set, I found myself indulging in bouldering as there was a wall 5 minutes from set! Skydiving provided an entirely different perspective of Berlin’s stunning landscape, giving me a sense of freedom and awe as I soared through the skies with new friends I had made in the stunt team. Paddle boarding on the nearby lakes was a serene escape, allowing me to unwind and recharge amidst nature’s tranquility.

My experience in Berlin as Mark Wahlberg’s stunt double on the set of Uncharted was nothing short of an adventure of a lifetime. It actually didnt end there because we were invited to finish the movies last few weeks in Barcelona! I took a private jet for the first time which was an experience in itself! We finished with some roof top chases getting to see some of Barcelona’s top landmarks. What an incredible experience the whole thing was.

Believe it or not, Tom Holland who played Nate used to train at my gym before he was even Spiderman! It was quite surreal to see him on set and to hear him say that he used to watch my videos and really looked up to me as a Parkour athlete. He was so lovely to work with, very talented and super professional, I got to help him with a small parkour sequence running and jumping the roof tops of Barcelona which was a really nice for us.