The first photos from The Gambler starring Mark Wahlberg have arrived and you will hardly recognize the normally bulked up star. After seeing him at his muscular best in Transformers: Age of Extinction, Wahlberg dropped 60 pounds to play a university literature professor who is grappling with a serious gambling addiction.

Paramount Pictures must be thinking major Oscar potential for Wahlberg as the previous Oscar nominee could be up for another nod for the role that finds him slowly descending into a self-created hell. See, the film arrives on December 19 -- a prime time Oscar season spot!

Wahlberg plays a man whose gambling issues become worse and worse, and as these first photos appeared in USA Today, the star talked about how the film was a supreme challenge on numerous levels.

“Being believable as a teacher was one of my greatest challenges and most rewarding,” Wahlberg said.

“It meant being able to have the comfort to really understand and say those words.” 

Check out Wahlberg going the other direction and getting majorly fit and watch The Fighter online.

The Gambler Photos

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