Mark Wahlberg Reveals Why He Cast Justin Bieber in His Basketball Movie (Video)

Mark Wahlberg announced plans to team with Justin Bieber for a big-screen effort for Paramount earlier this year and as he readies for the release of upcoming actioner Contraband, the actor-producer revealed why he wanted to work with the teen singer.

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Intuition. I'm prety intuitive," Wahlberg told MTV News of why working with Bieber on a drama was a no-brainer.

The 40-year-old also touched on Bieber's potential, praising his work ethic.

"I see the guy and spent time with him and you see what he does and how he does it," Wahlberg said, "and then you actually have a conversation with him and it's there."

But Wahlberg already has a Plan B should Bieber have struggles: "If not, I will extract it."

At the MTV Movie Awards, Wahlberg and Bieber revealed more details about what to expect. "Think of The Color of Money," Wahlberg said of his part. "I get this call from Paramount [with a story about] an old guy and a young guy," suggesting actors like Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall for the "old guy" role.

Back in April, Wahlberg said that he was developing a project with Bieber that would center on basketball.

"We pitched [Paramount] the idea and, you know, we're talking about doing it," he said at the time. "[Bieber's] been sending me video, he sent me a video of himself, and, yeah, I think hes really talented."

Wahlberg next appears in Contraband, an action thriller co-starring Kate Beckinsale, opening Jan. 13.