Christian Bale is poised to star alongside Mark Wahlberg in the long-in-development drama The Fighter, with David O Russell replacing The Wrestler helmer Darren Aronofsky in the director's chair. The film has had a seriously protracted journey to this stage, with both Brad Pitt and Matt Damon attached at different points in the Bale role; while Wahlberg has apparently been training with the intensity of a pro-fighter on and off for the past couple of years to get himself ready for the part. Film is based on the true story of Boston fighter "Irish" Mickey Ward, who Wahlberg will play. He was helped to the World Light Heavyweight Crown by his brother, Dicky Eklund, after he got out of prison, having blown his own scuffling skills by dabbling with drugs and the likes. It really sounds like it could be a cracking film if done right; and while I would've preferred to see Aronofsky bring it to the big screen, O Russell did direct the fantastic Three Kings (the less said about the staggeringly pretentious I Heart Huckabees the better). Deals for Bale and O Russell are nearing ink stage says Variety.