Transformers star Mark Wahlberg makes surprise stopover at Melbourne Airport

ONLOOKERS were shocked to see Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg — who is on his way to Sydney — at Melbourne Airport today. But why was he there?

WHERE is Optimus Prime when you need him?

Mark Wahlberg was forced to re-route to Melbourne on Wednesday morning after missing his scheduled flight from Los Angeles.

The Hollywood A-lister, who plays a Texan mechanic in the fourth Transformers instalment, Age of Extinction, was en route to Sydney to introduce 15 minutes of advance footage ahead of the blockbuster’s release on June 26 and participate in a Q&A session with 2DayFM’s Merrick Watts.

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Heavy hitter ... Mark Wahlberg arrives at Melbourne Airport after missing his flight to Sydney. Picture: Splash News

Wahlberg’s unscheduled stopover was due to a scheduling issue.

There were no direct flights to Sydney that would get Wahlberg into town in time for his black carpet commitments, according to a publicist from Paramount.

Michael Bay’s action franchise, based on the popular 80s toyline, has taken more than $US2.6 billion at the box office world wide, but Age of Extinction is the first to star Wahlberg in the lead role.

Hard-hitting combo ... director Michael Bay with Mark Wahlberg on the Transformers set in Detroit.

Shia LaBeouf, the franchise’s original lead, was last seen with a paper bag over his head at the Berlin Film Festival premiere of Lars Von Triers’s Nymphomaniac: Part 1 in February.

Bay has said that he made the switch because he wanted a fresh start for the franchise and judging by the trailer, Age of Extinction has a darker, grittier tone than the franchise’s three previous films.

The Hollywood heavy-hitter previously worked with Wahlberg on Pain & Gain, which also starred Aussie actress Rebel Wilson.

Grittier tone ... Wahlberg with Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor.

Wahlberg’s single dad jump starts Optimus Prime in the new film, set four years after the invasion of Chicago in Dark of the Moon, after realising his old truck is in fact an alien robot.

The all-new cast also includes Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and Nicola Peltz as Wahlberg’s daughter and dinobots Slog and Snarl.

Originally published as Transformers star Mark Wahlberg makes surprise stopover at Melbourne Airport