Mark Wahlberg has landed a lead role in Netflix‘s upcoming action thriller, and a major director is now attached to the project. After the massive success of The Rip, its acclaimed filmmaker is now on board to helm the movie.
According to Deadline, Joe Carnahan has signed on to direct the movie, titled The Operator. Harrison Query wrote the original spec screenplay, which the streaming giant acquired in a competitive situation in December 2025.
Carnahan’s attachment comes after his January hit, The Rip, achieved major streaming success. The movie premiered on January 16 and earned more than 41 million views in the first three days on Netflix. Starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, it dominated the charts, opening at No. 1 and charting in 93 countries.
What we know about Mark Wahlberg’s new Netflix action movie
The Operator stars Mark Wahlberg in the titular role of an ex-Tier One Operator, who now earns a living as one of the CIA’s invisible specialists. His latest assignment becomes complicated when he is ordered to escort his most hated target to safety.
The mission quickly turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. The Former operative must protect someone he despises while trying to escape the people who are after them. Its premise seems to lean into the high-stakes, character-driven action for which Carnahan is known.
The Operator also has a heavyweight production crew behind the scenes. The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona will produce the film. Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson will also produce under their Municipal Pictures banner. They are joined by Scott Glassgold with his 12:01 Films banner, who produced 2024’s Tarot.
Carnahan has built a genre-defining career with his projects. His previous directing credits include Narc, Smokin’ Aces, The Grey, and Copshop. Meanwhile, Netflix has also acquired Query’s latest crime drama series, The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey.
The Operator does not have a premiere date yet.
Originally reported by Manoj Chekkilla on ComingSoon.
