<P> This is a perfect fit for us--a suspenseful and inspiring real - life account of everyday people whose values are tested in the face of an impending environmental disaster . </P> <P> On July 24, 2012, Ric Roman Waugh was in talks with the studios to direct the film, Mark Vahradian was set to produce the film along with Bonaventura, and Lions Gate Entertainment also joined the project to produce and distribute . On July 11, 2014, it was announced that All Is Lost's director J.C. Chandor had been hired to direct the film; the screenplay's first draft was written by Sand, while Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the second draft . In early October, it was confirmed that Summit would distribute the film, not Lionsgate . On January 30, 2015, it was reported that Lone Survivor director Peter Berg had replaced Chandor, and would re-team with Wahlberg on the film . Chandor exited due to creative differences . </P> <P> On August 19, 2014, casting began, with actor Mark Wahlberg added in the lead role of the film . Wahlberg plays Mike Williams, a real - life electronics technician on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig . On March 18, 2015, Gina Rodriguez was set to play a woman named Andrea Fleytas, who was on the bridge on board the Deepwater Horizon at the time of the blowout, and frantically tried to contact the Coast Guard . On April 10, 2015, Deadline reported that Dylan O'Brien was in talks to play Caleb Holloway . Kurt Russell joined the film on the same day O'Brien was in talks . Soon after, John Malkovich was confirmed cast, as a BP representative who fatally underestimates the dangers of working on the rig . Kate Hudson was announced as a cast member in May, 2015, and playing the wife of Wahlberg's character; her role will be her first on - screen pairing with Russell, her stepfather, although they shared no dialogue in the film . </P> <P> Principal photography on the film began on April 27, 2015 . It was officially announced by Lionsgate on May 18, 2015 that filming had begun in New Orleans, Louisiana . </P>

Who plays mark wahlberg's wife in deepwater horizon