Variety reports that Christian Bale and David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) have been attached to Fighter, previously set to be directed by Darren Aronofsky. Russell will now direct Bale and Mark Wahlberg in the story about Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward. Bale will play Dicky Eklund, a real life boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded after a run of drugs and crime. He will help his half-brother Ward in a Rocky-like rise to world lightweight champion. Matt Damon and Brad Pitt have also been previously attached, but have dropped out. Production is supposed to start in July, but negotiations are still being worked out.
It’s a shame that Aronofsky isn’t doing the project anymore, but I’m a huge fan of Russell after Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees. It will be interesting to see Bale and Wahlberg team up.
Are you excited for Fighter?