Former tough wows Beantown

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BOSTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Former street punk Mark Wahlberg wowed the crowd at the premier of his latest flick, "I Heart Huckabees," in Boston.

"It makes you think and explore issues," Wahlberg told Tuesday's Boston Herald. "We don't blow up anything, although there's a fair amount of sex and nudity."

One of the curious coincidences that occurred during the filming involved New York Yankee Derek Jeter. Jeter was written into the script on the first day of production but then asked to be written out because of flak he was catching from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner about his extracurricular activities.

"The day they wrote him out, Jeter slid into a player serendipitously named Ken Huckaby during a game in Toronto, where the film was being shot," director David O. Russell said.

Also at the premier were Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce, Mykelti Williamson of "Forrest Gump" fame, "Hellboy" Ron Perlman, boxers Vinny Pazienza and Mickey Ward, and Donnie Wahlberg and other kin.

Wahlberg already has his sights set on the future. Daily Variety reports he's in negotiations with Paramount for a sequel to the "Italian Job." Filming is set to begin in late March for a November 2005 release.