Old news, but I just heard about it: Paramount is currently pre-producing “The Fighter,” the story of “Irish” Micky Ward, one of my favorite boxers. Mark Wahlberg is set to play Micky and either Matt Damon or Brad Pitt to play his trainer and half brother Dick Ecklund, an ex-boxer who beat drug addiction and convinced Micky to re-enter the ring after four straight losses. I’d link, but my cut and paste isn’t working at the moment.
Cool, thank you. I switched computers and found this Variety story; looks like Matt’s out and Brad’s in.
Brad Pitt laces up for ‘Fighter,’ Replaces Matt Damon in Paramount drama
I wonder how Hollywood will treat it. There’s a new book out about Mickey Ward and I heard the author giving an interview. Apparently Dickie Ecklund and the rest of Ward’s family are basically scumbags. Ecklund only got sober to leach off his brother’s success and has now returned to drugs. Ward’s other family members are pretty bad, too, from what I can recall. Ward seems to have avoided the scumbag gene, although the author did talk about his heavy drinking and the like. Of course Hollywood will probably decide to turn this into some sort of inspirational story about a man overcoming his past and inspiring his druggie brother. The real story sounds much more interesting to me.
Of course, Dickie Ecklund was already featured in one movie: High on Crack Street.
Am I the only one thinking this was a Rocky prequel?
It could have been Bob Halloran talking about his book “Irish Thunder: the Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward.” The movie was on track before the book came out, but Halloran is being hired as a consultant for the movie. I haven’t read it, but the reviews say Dickie comes off as a good trainer (when sober) who is genuinely protective of his brother’s best interest, but yeah, he’s a crack addict who’s been to prison for armed robbery. I might pick the book up and take a look.
Here’s a story: Milton author pens book about New England boxing fan favorite Micky Ward