Christian Bale Set To Join Mark Wahlberg In ‘The Fighter’
Apr 21, 2009 by Ross MillerIt appears that The Dark Knight himself, Christian Bale, will be starring alongside Mark Wahlberg in the boxing movie The Fighter. The film, now being …
It appears that The Dark Knight himself, Christian Bale, will be starring alongside Mark Wahlberg in the boxing movie The Fighter. The film, now being directed by David O. Russell (he, Wahlberg and Bale’s involvement are still being negotiated, by the way), will be financed by Relativity Media (first initiated by Paramount Pictures who will now only be distributing in the US) and is hoped to be in production this summer.
It may be an unfamiliar project to you, so here is the official synopsis for it:
[The Fighter] tells the story of Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dicky Eklund. Eklund once decked Sugar Ray Leonard and went the distance against the boxing legend before forfeiting his career to drugs and crime. He redeemed himself by training Ward through his Rocky-like run to the title.
Although it may not be a project widely known by most, that certainly hasn’t been the case behind the scenes. It’s reportedly a property that’s attracted some of Hollywood’s biggest talent, from the likes of Matt Damon and Brad Pitt (both for the role which is opposite Wahlberg), as well as The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler and The Fighter?… coincidence?…).
Wahlberg has been the only person permanently attached to the film, with him still training his body into the state needed to play the lead role of Mickey Ward whilst the background arrangements were being dealt with. Bale will play his half-brother Dickey Ecklund, the one who tries to help him reach glory. There isn’t a finished script ready, but the most recent draft was written by Scott Silver and Lewis Colick (writers of 8 Mile and Ladder 49, respectively).
The director now brought on-board, Russell, perhaps got the job because he was recommended by Wahlberg as this won’t be the first time they’ve worked together – Russell also directed Wahlberg in both Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees, so hopefully their experience and comfort of working together will be an advantage to the production of The Fighter.
This is a project that I’ve had on my radar ever since I first heard about it. It stuck in my head because Wahlberg will be playing an Irish boxer (although I doubt that means Irish, Irish), and the fact it’ll give us a new boxing franchise other than Rocky that will hopefully be, you know… good.
Adding talent like Bale is never a bad thing – it’ll be really cool to see him work with Wahlberg for the first time. And of course there’s Russell, who’s film Three Kings, in particular, shows he really knows what he’s doing when it comes to directing an ambitious movie on a small-ish scale.
This is a project that has huge potential to be something pretty special, and I just hope the most is made out of it… something tells me, with this trio, that it will.
Do you like the sound of The Fighter? Are you interested to see Bale work with Wahlberg for the first time?
The Fighter is set to start production this July but no release date has been set as of yet.
Source: Variety
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YES YES YES!
Christian Bale is my favorite actor and although Wahlberg isn’t near Bale’s level imo, I think he does do a very good job as a tough guy like who he played in The Departed and an Irish Boxer sounds like a role that will fit him well. Also I’ve seen Three Kings and likes that movie very much, I’ll be keeping my eye out for this one.
could this be Bale’s second bad movie? i hope not.
yes im interested, i have yet to see a film that Bale has made that has been garbage of course im not gonn assume that its will be good just b/c hes in it.
@ Matt
you haven’t seen a movie that Bale is in that’s garbage? how about that movie where they were slaying dragons or whatever? with matt mcgonaghey, oops bad spelling sry
cat,
its “Reign of Fire” and i actually liked that film.
probably the weakest film ive seen of his was “Equilibrium”
That movie wasn’t Garbage Cat it just wasn’t great. Certainly not a terrible movie just not on the same lvl as his other work.
Mark Wahlberg is DEFINITELY a better actor than a singer/rapper, that’s for sure. I think this project just got a HUGE boast with the addition of Bale and may lend it the credibility it needs to be a hit. Too many people might remember “The Happening” if Marky Mark is the only big name on the project.
Very cool. I’m a big Wahlberg fan, despite all the less-than-stellar performances I’ve seen out of him. But I kind of wish they went with Matt Damon for the half-brother role.
I love Bale, but I’ve wanted to see Damon and Wahlberg play brothers for a long time. They look identical, IMO.
Lets be honest Andy s it’s not like The Happening was his only bad movie there is a list of films that people might remember that will make them not want to see another Marky Mark film.
The Happening
Max Payne
And Planet of the Apes being the worst of them all .. At least out of the films I’ve seen.
To be honest I really have only thought one of his films was good the rest ranged from horrible to meh.
so, bale is going to be in EVERY movie now. he certainly is giving sam jackson a run for his money
@ Marvin
WTF are you talking about?
yeah, thats the name of it. and no, it wasn’t very good at all. but, like i said, i hope that’s not the case with this movie.
marvin
bale makes good movies, samuel L makes every movie.
marvin,
its b/c hes popular right now(especially after the success of TDK), and hes a great actor.
I myself don’t believe in such a thing as a bad film… Only bad for you. All of the movies that were mentioned up there were ok to me… I’d watch any one of them again. As for boxing movies… I haven’t seen one i haven’t liked yet… I doubt that i’ll hate this one. Yes i’d watch the happening again… That movie was hilarious how they were killing themselves… At least to me it was. When they shot the kid… Priceless… Oh and dude with the lawnmower. But again… That’s just my opinion.
except the last batman movie and terminator movies,Bale hasn’t real movie project.Killing Pablo is in stand-by,Prisoner isn’t official(only announced)this movie is his first real project since the end of T4! Dicaprio or Damon have many projects!
Actually Bale has Public Enemies coming out this year as well.
Weird just looked at IMDB and they have this movie labeled as The Prisoner instead of The Fighter.
@ Daniel F
No I checked and Prisoners and The Fighter are two different movies, they just both include Bale and Wahlberg teaming up.
I know these guys do amazing in roles like this, so I’m expecing this movie(The Fighter) to be good at least, but I wish we could see them in a comedy movie. Like Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder sorta. Anymore word on Wahlberg and Farrel teaming up for the buddy-cop comedy movie?
Bale does amazing, but Whalberg really never proved himself. The Departed was good, but he wasn’t the best part of it he just happened to be in a great movie with great actors he really didn’t contribute to the greatness much. Everything else he has done kind of sucked.
i liked wahlberg in “The Italian Job” and “The Rockstar”, but other than that i cant think of anything hes done(thats was entertaining anyway)
he was great in “Invincible” as well
The Italian job was an ok flick, but nothing special. Rockstar was terrible and pretty much universally bashed and Invincible is an ok flick, but tried to be more than it could be especially with Marky Mark as the lead.
Bale and Wahlberg, BFF’s forever. I don’t mind they’re both superb actors and David O. Russell and Bryan Singer are two of todays best working directors.
Does this mean Bale for The Departed 2? I bloody hope so.
I liked Mark in Four Brothers, The Invisible, The Departed, Italian Job, Shooter, The Perfect Storm. Then Christian has a million good movies, this movie is gonna be intense.
ALEXGA I’m guessing your an idiot ?
Yeah, Batman versus Max Payne – that should be good.
@Daniel F
Ugh, I deleted that idiotic comment.
Vic
Has an Irish Rocky feel to it with excellent acting. Bale helps out a lot, can he pull off that accent? Pissed Aronofsky left the project, he would have made it solid. Will see it, also am a boxing fan and have watched Ward fight a few times.