Stu: Mark Wahlberg wears fat suit and prosthetic chin as plays 'boxer turned priest' in new drama

Mark Wahlberg is seen showing off his recent 20lb weight gain while filming his new faith-based drama Stu on Friday.

The actor, who has been piling on pounds to play a boxer-turned-priest in the Rosalind Ross-directed flick, also had some help from a fat suit and prosthetics to achieve the transformation.

On set in Los Angeles, the 49-year-old could be seen with a chin prosthetic to give him a more portly look as he filmed with costar Mel Gibson. 

Big man on set: Mark Wahlberg wore a fat suit as he got to work filming his new movie Sty on Friday

Big man on set: Mark Wahlberg wore a fat suit as he got to work filming his new movie Sty on Friday

Big man on set: Mark Wahlberg wore a fat suit as he got to work filming his new movie Sty on Friday

Few more pounds: The actor, who has been packing on pounds to play a boxer-turned-priest in the Rosalind Ross-directed flick, also had some help from a fat suit and prosthetics to achieve the transformation

Few more pounds: The actor, who has been packing on pounds to play a boxer-turned-priest in the Rosalind Ross-directed flick, also had some help from a fat suit and prosthetics to achieve the transformation

Few more pounds: The actor, who has been packing on pounds to play a boxer-turned-priest in the Rosalind Ross-directed flick, also had some help from a fat suit and prosthetics to achieve the transformation

The Departed actor plays Father Stuart Long and Gibson, 65, is playing his father.  

The project – which Wahlberg has been working on for six years – is based on real life priest Father Long and documents the twists and turns of his fascinating story.

Ross, Gibson’s longtime girlfriend, also wrote the script for the biopic. It will be her feature directorial debut.

In his youth Long shunned his catholic faith for a career in boxing but suffered a broken jaw which held back his progress. He then decided to go to LA to embark on an acting career. But that didn’t go to plan either, as Long was involved in a horrific motorcycle accident. 

Transformation: Wahlberg showed off extra weight around his face thanks to prosthetics

Transformation: Wahlberg showed off extra weight around his face thanks to prosthetics

Transformation: Wahlberg showed off extra weight around his face thanks to prosthetics

Close shave: Wahlberg has also shaved his head for his role in the faith-based drama which he is producing

Close shave: Wahlberg has also shaved his head for his role in the faith-based drama which he is producing

Close shave: Wahlberg has also shaved his head for his role in the faith-based drama which he is producing

While in the hospital he had an out of body experience and discovered his faith again, soon enlisting in Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. 

But things took a turn for the worse while he was studying, when he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative muscle disease. By the time he was ordained as priest, he was on crutches. 

When he became a full-fledged priest working in Montana, he was performing duties in a motorized chair. He died in 2014.

Ready to roll: The 49-year-old actor donned a patterned sweater for filming on Friday

Ready to roll: The 49-year-old actor donned a patterned sweater for filming on Friday

Ready to roll: The 49-year-old actor donned a patterned sweater for filming on Friday

Ready to roll: The 49-year-old actor donned a patterned sweater for filming on Friday

Ready to roll: The 49-year-old actor donned a patterned sweater for filming on Friday

Project: Stu is based on real life priest Father Stuart Long and documents the twists and turns of his fascinating life

Project: Stu is based on real life priest Father Stuart Long and documents the twists and turns of his fascinating life

Project: Stu is based on real life priest Father Stuart Long and documents the twists and turns of his fascinating life

Fascinating story: Father Stuart Long, who died in 2014, rediscovered his faith and became a priest later in life

Fascinating story: Father Stuart Long, who died in 2014, rediscovered his faith and became a priest later in life

Fascinating story: Father Stuart Long, who died in 2014, rediscovered his faith and became a priest later in life 

On Thursday, Wahlberg shared photos to social media revealing his new buzzcut ahead of filming. 

And earlier this month he thanked his personal chef Lawrence Duran as he showed off his 20lb weight gain and revealing that he aims to gain an additional 20lb for the movie, which he is also producing. 

Duran told E! News that Wahlberg is eating ‘eight meals a day at about 7,000 calories’ in order to achieve his extreme six-week transformation.

To add at least 30 pounds, the actor has to stop and eat ‘about every three hours’ and is under the supervision of a physician and a nutritionist.

All star cast: Mel Gibson was also seen on set with Wahlberg who could be seen in a wheelchair

All star cast: Mel Gibson was also seen on set with Wahlberg who could be seen in a wheelchair

All star cast: Mel Gibson was also seen on set with Wahlberg who could be seen in a wheelchair

The 65-year-old actor pushed Wahlberg in his wheelchair during one scene. Not much is known about the script

The 65-year-old actor pushed Wahlberg in his wheelchair during one scene. Not much is known about the script

The 65-year-old actor pushed Wahlberg in his wheelchair during one scene. Not much is known about the script

The Departed actor plays Father Stuart Long and Gibson, 65, is playing his father. Teresa Ruiz (Narcos: Mexico) is on board to play Long's girlfriend

The Departed actor plays Father Stuart Long and Gibson, 65, is playing his father. Teresa Ruiz (Narcos: Mexico) is on board to play Long's girlfriend

The Departed actor plays Father Stuart Long and Gibson, 65, is playing his father. Teresa Ruiz (Narcos: Mexico) is on board to play Long’s girlfriend

‘We meet with a team of doctors who do his bloodwork and a nutritionist who gives us a full breakdown of what his body needs, what his body’s lacking and basically come up with a meal plan accordingly,’ Duran explained.

‘We do good carbohydrates, dark green vegetables, and then, just switch up the protein throughout the day and, at least, a dozen eggs a day,’ Duran said.

As for ‘how long’ it will take for Wahlberg to drop the weight and return to his svelte physique, Duran said ‘it varies.’

‘For him, he can drop it pretty quick. Within a few weeks you’ll probably see a drastic change,’ he guessed. 

LA film set: Gibson stripped off to a white tank top during one scene

LA film set: Gibson stripped off to a white tank top during one scene

LA film set: Gibson stripped off to a white tank top during one scene

New look: Wahlberg showed off his buzz cut in this Instagram snap on Thursday. He looked bigger but not as big as his on set photos

New look: Wahlberg showed off his buzz cut in this Instagram snap on Thursday. He looked bigger but not as big as his on set photos

New look: Wahlberg showed off his buzz cut in this Instagram snap on Thursday. He looked bigger but not as big as his on set photos

‘Wahlberg has been doing this his whole life, whereas for the average person, it may take months on end. Not everyone’s body is the same and his meal plan may not work for you or I,’ he concluded.

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel on April 8, Wahlberg said he was looking forward to eating ‘lots of burgers and lots of buns’ but added that he’s been working with a professional to help him stay healthy.

‘They want me to do it as healthy as possible and I’m like “Dude, I’ve been on such a regimen for so long, I just want to eat everything in sight,”‘ he said.

‘I want to go bakeries, I want to go to Denny’s, I want to get pancakes, I want to get everything I can possibly get my hands on,’ Wahlberg added.

Piling on pounds: earlier this month he thanked his personal chef Lawrence Duran as he showed off his 20lb weight gain and revealing that he aims to gain an additional 20lb for the movie, which he is also producing

Piling on pounds: earlier this month he thanked his personal chef Lawrence Duran as he showed off his 20lb weight gain and revealing that he aims to gain an additional 20lb for the movie, which he is also producing

Piling on pounds: earlier this month he thanked his personal chef Lawrence Duran as he showed off his 20lb weight gain and revealing that he aims to gain an additional 20lb for the movie, which he is also producing

Rosalind Ross, Gibson's longtime girlfriend, also wrote the script for the biopic. It will be her feature directorial debut. Seen here in 2019

Rosalind Ross, Gibson's longtime girlfriend, also wrote the script for the biopic. It will be her feature directorial debut. Seen here in 2019

Rosalind Ross, Gibson’s longtime girlfriend, also wrote the script for the biopic. It will be her feature directorial debut. Seen here in 2019

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue9OvqqGnp5e2u3vSraxmpZGnuG7DwKGjm52inHq4scCrqmaekal6tMHIrWSappRivbO70q2fnqyZmHqktMinZJqrXaW5osXSZpmosJWnerXB0aecnWWgp7amv9NmoKdlnprEbrDRmqSaZw%3D%3D