Mark Wahlberg says THE FIGHTER is down for the count, Brad Pitt knocked out!

Paramount Pictures have pumped millions of dollars on several different writers and two years of developing THE FIGHTER but this weekend all signs point to the studio shelving the project. Two years ago Mark Wahlberg signed up to star as "Irish" Mickey Ward and Matt Damon his half brother/boxing trainer. Damon was then replaced in September 2007 by Brad Pitt and Darren Aronofsky's project seemed ready to go. Then Aronofsky went on to direct the similar sounding THE WRESTLER and now several re-writes later the film looks done. This weekend The Playlist claims that Brad Pitt has dropped the film to work on other material and now Mark Wahlberg tells Coming Soon that he is meeting with Aronofsky TODAY for what could be the death meeting of THE FIGHTER...

I get up everyday at 5:00AM to train for a movie that might not even happen. It's depressing...I€™m so focused on €œFighter€ and that€™s not even happening so it€™s all depressing. I€™m just looking for the next thing. I€™m always looking for the next thing. I€™ve done three or four movies since I€™ve been training for Fighter,€ Wahlberg said, later adding: €œThey finally got the green light, now we have to figure out the cast thing. I€™m going to meet with Darren Aronofsky on Tuesday in New York so we€™ll see.€

Although that sounds like he is contradicting himself by saying it's not happening, then it may be happening, it's pretty obvious the status of the project is extremely confused at this point. Despite the high profile ROBOCOP movie that Aronofsky is attached too, the director still very much believes in this project and /film believe scouting for locations are well under-way, so the project is not officially done yet. But despite the massive buzz for THE WRESTLER, Paramount may not believe in the film as much as Aronofsky and they of course get the final say on the project.