Netflix's new romantic spy thriller "The Union" centers on the romance between two estranged high school sweethearts: blue-collar worker Mike (Mark Wahlberg) and secret agent Roxanne (Halle Berry).
What Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg Were Really Like as Teenagers | The Union | Netflix
However, during the film's 109-minute running time, the two never kiss. Director Julian Farino says it took a lot of thought, but the decision was ultimately made to leave fans with a bad feeling.
"We're taking the relationship to a certain point, and then I think you have to leave a lot of room to go," Farino told Variety at the film's L.A. premiere on Monday night. "Netflix always said to us at the beginning, 'You have to think of this as a potential three-movie idea.' So if an audience shows up and wants a kiss, then we've probably done a good job, as far as I'm concerned."
Farino joined Berry, Wahlberg and the rest of the cast of "The Union" on the red carpet outside Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre to discuss how they brought the Netflix action-adventure to life. The film follows a secret service unit known as "The Union," which specializes in turning working-class boys into deadly spies. After an overseas mission is jeopardized, Roxanne returns to her home state of New Jersey to recruit her high school sweetheart, Mike, whose anonymity and construction experience make him the perfect addition to the team.
