Mark Wahlberg’s Father Stu is heading back to theaters next month, and this time, it will be without all those naughty words. The original cut of Father Stu was released back in April with an R-rating for “language throughout,” but Sony Pictures will re-release the movie on December 9th with a PG-13 edit.
Boasting a new title — Father Stu: Reborn — the recut movie is now rated PG-13 for “language, an accident scene, sexual references, some violence and smoking.” Based on a true story, Father Stu follows the life of Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption. Written and directed by Rosalind Ross, Father Stu starred Mark Wahlberg as the title character, along with Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, and Teresa Ruiz.
In addition to starring in Father Stu, Mark Wahlberg also invested “millions and millions” of his own money into the movie. The actor had shopped the movie around to a variety of producers but felt that none of them got it. “They didn’t see the heart and the emotion and, ultimately, how inspiring it is,” Wahlberg told People. “So I felt Mel had done it with The Passion, maybe I try it. And if I did find someone to finance, then that’s a whole other conversation because typically the person cutting the check also has notes and wants to be involved in the process,” Wahlberg said. “So I felt, you know what, I think it’s better if I just step up and have complete control… I’m always willing to bet on myself.“
In his review of Father Stu, our own Chris Bumbray thought that the movie might be “way too racy for a more conservative Christian audience,” with both Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg probably setting “a career record in terms of F-bombs dropped.” With the new PG-13 cut of Father Stu, perhaps Wahlberg will attract some of the audience who were put off by the film’s R-rating. You can check out the rest of Chris Bumbray’s review of Father Stu right here.