Warning: Spoilers for Netflix’s The Union below!
Summary
The Unionis Netflix’s latest action-comedy and its cast is littered with movie stars and acclaimed character actors.The Unionis the latest in the ever-expandingMark Wahlberg action movielibrary, with the story involving a construction worker recruited by his high school sweetheart into a spy organization. The philosophy behind this group is that instead of selecting the so-called elite of Yale or Harvard, they recruit people from blue-collar backgrounds who know how to “get s*** done.”
The Unionis part spy movie - complete with the requisite gunfights and car chases - and part romantic comedy. The movie is being billed as a blue-collarJames Bondmovie, though the focus is still on the romance between the two leads. The film also has franchise potential, sinceThe Union’sending suggests further adventures await Wahlberg’s Mike. Whether the Netflix original scores a big enough audience to net a sequel is another question.
Mark Wahlberg as Mike McKenna
Date of Birth: August 25, 2025
Actor:Mark Wahlberg was best known as rapper Marky Mark before his acting debut in the Penny Marshall comedyRenaissance Man. To the shock of many, he soon became one of Hollywood’s rising young stars.Wahlberg soon proved his acting chops with challenging roles in films likeBoogie NightsandThree Kings. In the decades since, he has tackled a wide variety of roles, from comedies (Ted) to hit action flicks (Shooter,Uncharted).
Ted
John Bennett
Character:Wahlberg’sUnioncharacter Mike McKenna is an underachieving construction worker planning his friend’s bachelor party when his Roxanne walks back into his life.Mike is soon whisked away to London and recruited into the spy group “Union,“and undergoes two weeks of training to take part in a special mission. Roxanne believes in his potential, but whether Mike himself does is key to his character arc.
The Union Interview: Mark Wahlberg Praises Halle Berry & Explains His “Blue Collar” James Bond Vision
Mark Wahlberg says that working with Halle Berry on The Union is a dream come true, and reveals which past character he would love to revisit.
Halle Berry as Roxanne Hall
Date of Birth: July 22, 2025
Actor:After making numerous guest appearances on sitcoms and TV dramas,Halle Berry made a real impression with her film debut in Spike Lee’sJungle Fever.After a solid decade of stealing films likeThe Flintstones, the acclaim that greeted her work in 2001’sMonster’s Ballmade Berry a movie star. Since then,Halle Berry movieshave been a blend of blockbusters (Die Another Day) with more intense projects like her directorial debut,Bruised.
Halle Berry’s sci-fi dramaThe Mothershipwas canceled by Netflix in 2024 after the streamer decided the film was unreleasable.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Sofia
Character:Berry plays Roxanne, who after leaving New Jersey at a young age, found herself recruited by The Union.Roxanne is one of the spy organization’s top members, but needing a fresh recruit she can trust, she turns to Mike. While she trains her ex, the old sparks between them start to fly again. Their blossoming romance becomes complicated, however, when Roxanne’s estranged husband returns from the dead.
J.K. Simmons as Tom Brennan
Date of Birth: August 11, 2025
Actor:For decades, J.K. Simmons has been one of the most reliable character actors in the business. After appearing in small roles in films likeThe Ref,Simmons came to everyone’s attention for his terrifying turn as Vern Schillinger in HBO prison dramaOz. He has rarely stopped working since, with his most acclaimed performance coming with 2014’sWhiplashas a vicious music teacher who demands perfection. Arguably Simmons' most popular role is that of J. Jonah Jameson in theSpider-Manmovie franchise.
Invincible
Omni-Man
Character:Simmons gives the cast ofThe Unionsome gruff gravitas as Tom Brennan, the head of the organization. Brennan fails to see the potential in Mike that Roxanne does, but having few options, he decides to trust her instincts.Brennan’s is essentially the film’s take on M, but one who is considerably less patient and prone to dry quipsas events spiral downhill during missions.
Mike Colter as Nick Faraday
Date of Birth: Jun 14, 2025
Actor:Mike Colter made his movie debut with Clint Eastwood boxing dramaMillion Dollar Baby,and went on to a run of great roles in movies and shows likeMen in Black 3.Colter’s career rose to the next level due to playing the lead in Netflix’sLuke Cage, and he made guest appearances on the streamer’s other superhero shows. In recent years, Colter has fronted horror seriesEvilandGerard Butler action moviePlane; Colter is signed on to a sequel dubbedShip.
Plane
Louis Gaspare
Character:Faraday is another top Union agent, and Roxanne’s estranged husband.Faraday is seemingly killed in the opening mission, only to reemerge later in the film, accusing another member of being a traitorto the team. His resurrection also poses a challenge to Mike and Roxanne’s relationship.
The Union Supporting Cast & Characters
Jackie Earle Haley as Foreman:Haley has been acting since the early 1970s when he appeared as a child star inThe Bad News Bearsmovies. As an adult, Haley was acclaimed for his role inLittle Childrenand went on to play Rorschach in Zack Snyder’sWatchmenand Freddy Krueger in 2010’sA Nightmare on Elm Streetremake.
Jessica De Gouw as Juliet Quinn:Australian actress Jessica De Gouw first broke through playing Mina Harker on NBC’sDraculaseries. Since then, she made a guest appearance onThe Crownand fronted steamy miniseriesThe Couple Next Door.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Pfeiffer:Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a familiar face on the big and small screens, ranging from his work on shows likeOzandLostto movies such asThe Bourne IdentityorSuicide Squad. Some of his most recent work includes a guest role onHis Dark Materials.
Alice Lee as Athena Kim:InThe Union,Lee plays tech support agent Athena, a close friend of Berry’s Roxanne. Lee will be known to viewers forZoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, in addition toBrittany Runs a Marathonand voicing Lois Lane in animated showMy Adventures with Superman.
Lorraine Bracco as Lorraine McKenna:Lorraine Bracco makes a cameo inThe Unionas the forceful mother of Wahlberg’s Mike. Bracco has an impressive body of work, including 1990’sGoodfellasandThe Sopranos.
The Union
Cast
The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.
