The set of The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg as boxer Mickey Ward, now promises to be a volatile place, with Christian Bale signing on for a supporting role and David O. Russell (who famously called Lily Tomlin a c*nt) on to direct.
Pic 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.
Wahlberg will play Ward, a fighter who was losing bouts and was ready to hang up the gloves when his brother came back into his life. Bale will play Eklund, whose drugs and robbery spree drew him a 10- to 15-year sentence in state prison. There, he kicked drugs, became a model prisoner and emerged as a changed man who helped his brother reach the glory that eluded him.
The project first came together with Boston natives Wahlberg and Matt Damon toplining for director Darren Aronofsky. Damon dropped out and Brad Pitt was poised to replace him, but the picture still stalled. Then Aronofsky moved on.
Meanwhile, Wahlberg has continued to train for the pic and is in fighting shape. [Variety]
Aside from the tantrum guy working with tantrum guy angle, David O. Russell’s breakout movie was Spanking the Monkey, about a guy who F’s his own mother, which could give “Say hi to your motha for me” a whole new meaning. It also seems wrong that there’s a character named “Dicky” and Wahlberg won’t be playing him.
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Via wikipedia: following year, Wahlberg robbed a pharmacy while he was under the influence of PCP. During the commission of the crime, he again used racial epithets. He knocked one middle aged Vietnamese man unconscious and permanently blinded another in one eye before he was arrested by the police.
Yeah, I think we know who’s going to win the tantrum on this set. And Wahlberg is getting “in fighting shape” as well, fantastic. David O’Russell would be cooler with an eyepatch anyway.
There are a lot of parallels to the careers of both Mickey Ward and Mark Wahlberg. Ward was the kind of boxer who could keep taking punches and look like he was down and out but would somehow come back and win. Marky Mark keeps making shitty movies over and over, but he’s still waiting on his win.
The is a parable for Wahlberg’s life. Didn’t his brother Donnie get him that rap career?
‘C’mon feel it feel it’ means something else in prison and I like that.
When this cast and crew falls apart, expect it to be picked up by “Boorish” Mickey G.
Biiiiiiiiiiiitch pleeeeeeeeease.
Alternate Headline:
The Fighter – Fighting – The Wrestler for the lead in sweaty male curiousity.
Minus “U.” Fuck U.
Looks like Wahlberg’s trying to adjust his funky bunch.
Wahlberg will play Porksword, a Gigolo who got the gout and was ready to hang up the gloves/whips/gimp when suddenly his brother came on his back. Bale will play Hunklund, whose drugs and lobbing skeet drew him 10- to 15-inches in. Then, he scored drugs, became a model and emerged in a man who helped his brother reach the glory hole that eluded him.
When asked why he chose the role Marky Mark claimed the film’s script gave him “Good Vibrations”.