Grab your tissues and some treats because we have the most PAWsome movie to tell you about! Arthur the King is based on the true story of Mikael Lindnord (played by Mark Wahlberg) and a stray that he named Arthur. In the movie, the two bond over meatballs, Arthur becomes smitten, and the pair race through the Dominican Republic together. In real life, Lindnord raced across Ecuador with the mutt. The movie explores how a “ruff” lookin’ pup unites a team of people pushing their limits.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)
Excitingly, Arthur the King has partnered with Best Friends Animal Society to bring attention to dog adoption.
The Knockturnal enjoyed a private screening of Arthur the King with Mikael Lindnord… AND surprise appearances by Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, the “Arthur” pup, and more at Westfield Century City AMC in Los Angeles!
Set up outside the movie theater was an official Arthur the King PAWty with bites, beverages, epic photo booths, a climbing wall, a pup adoption center, and a K9 playpen! A DJ blasted Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch’s iconic single “Good Vibrations” while calligraphers created custom paw print art for animal lovers.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate)
Along the green carpet… DOG HAIR? Don’t care! Pup-arazzi caught Mikael Lindnord using a lent roller down Simu Liu’s top after Simu posed for several photos with his adopted canine, Chopa! Simu met Chopa on the set of Arthur the King. (Chopa was a background mutt. No autographs, please.) Simu, who plays adrenaline influencer “Leo” in the film, tells The Knockturnal’s Kinsey Schofield that the international adoption process was difficult and he would like to improve travel protocols. (Listen to him explain in the interview above.)
Raise the woof! Arthur the King hits theaters March 15th!
Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.