Why don’t Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg kiss in their new Netflix movie, ‘The Union’?

Hollywood superstars Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg play the lead roles in rom-com spy thriller ‘The Union,’ which was released on Netflix on Friday, August 16. And while their characters provide the ‘rom,’ they don’t kiss any at point of the movie, a deliberate ploy by director Julian Farino.

What is ‘The Union’ about?

Without giving too much away for those who have yet to see it, high school sweethearts Mike McKenna (Wahlberg), a construction worker, and Roxanne Hall (Berry), a secret agent, reunite after 25 years, and look all set to rekindle their romance.

She initially has an ulterior motive for reentering his life, although the pair rediscover their old spark without actually acting on it. They come tantalisingly close on several occasions during the 109-minute film, but manage to resist temptation.

The reason Berry and Wahlberg’s characters don’t kiss in the movie

Speaking to Variety at the movie’s Los Angeles premiere, Farino revealed a kiss between the protagonists had been “long debated” but was ultimately ruled out to leave viewers wanting more, which they look set to get.

“We take the relationship to a certain place, and then I think you’ve got to leave a lot of space to go. If an audience comes out wanting a kiss, then we’ve probably done alright, in my opinion.”

“Once they kiss, then it’s over,” concurred Berry. “We’re hoping if we get to do a second one, we’ll let that chase continue.”

Farino also explained that reaching the decision had been helped by Netflix’s desire for ‘The Union’ to be part of a trilogy: “Netflix always said to us at the beginning, ‘You have to think of this as a possible three-movie idea’”. So if enjoy Berry and Wahlberg’s latest offering, it seems as if you’ll be in luck.