Bale to Duke it Out with Wahlberg in ‘The Fighter’

David O. Russell is going Rocky on us, as he will be directing Relativity Media’s new movie ‘The Fighter’ to be distributed by Paramount, which is expected to begin shooting this July.

The movie tells the story of “Irish” Mickey Ward, a fighter from Boston who was helped by his half-brother Dicky Eklund to the world lightweight championship. Eklund (Bale) is remembered for his career prior to drugs and crime, when he went toe to toe with Sugar Ray Leonard, and then afterwards when he trained Ward (Wahlberg) Rocky-style.

I have to admit, I would have rather seen Arronofsky direct this, but due to the long-running issues with getting the project off the ground, Arronofsky backed out and moved on. However, that’s not to say Russell isn’t a capable director. The project has also gone through it’s share of actors, including Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, before steeling on what looks to be Bale and Wahlberg, although they are apparently still negotiating.

One thing’s for sure, filming in a boxing frame of mind, Wahlberg shouldn’t do anything to “piss” Bale off or they may find themselves in real-life fisticuffs as a result of Bale’s temper.

[source: Variety]