Wahlberg & Damon to face off in the ring?

By Matt Holmes / June 25, 2011

Variety are reporting that The Departed co-stars Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg will sign up for The Fighter for Paramount Pictures..... if they like the script.

A re-write is currently being fast tracked by the studio and should be completed within two weeks, and all being well they will be shooting Wahlberg & Damon for the movie this summer. The Fighter is a boxing drama set around the "Rocky" like rise of "Irish" Mickey Ward's unlikely run to the world lightweight title after a life filled with problems of drugs and crime. The movie centers around themes of "brotherhood" and "redemption" as Mickey's turn around in his life is guided by his half-brother. According to AICN, Wahlberg will be playing the fighter and Matt Damon his brother.... which personally I would have cast the other way around. I could see Damon as this young troubled boxer and Wahlberg being the supportive older brother but I'm sure it will work there way to. They were both superb in The Departed and if they bring their "A-Game" then this could be something really special. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing The Departed and The Prestige again on DVD.... but especially Scorsese's film. source - aicn, variety, the hollywood reporter