Does Sugar Ray Leonard have a role in the movie “The Fighter”?”
Frosty at Collider had a chance to chat to Christian Bale and got an interesting update on The Fighter, David O. Russell’s take on the life and times of Micky Ward. Ward was a boxer of some note winning the prestigious ‘fight of the year award’ three times in a row and was seen very much as a working class hero. Ward will be played by Mark Wahlberg with Bale playing the older brother of Ward, Dickie Ecklund who was also a notable fighter having faced Sugar Ray Leonard losing on points. HBO fans may recognize him from the 1995 documentary High on Crack Street which depicted his sad descent from the highs of boxing to the lows on drugs. Bale stated that they may start shooting within two weeks. Surely if a film is that close to shooting a timetable would be in place though. We all know of the problems Nailed has had in getting to the screen and I sincerely hope that this is a relatively trouble free production. It’s already had to deal with a director change and it seems somewhat up in t
California – Dangerously committed to his role as drug addicted trainer and brother to Mark Wahlberg’s Mickey Ward, Christian Bale walks to the set of The Fighter on the afternoon of July 14, 2009, dressed in a boxing trainer’s smock with his character’s name emblazoned on the front pocket. Coincidentally, hall of fame boxer Sugar Ray Leonard also appeared near the trailers, sporting a tuxedo for his role in the film. Bale plays Dickie Eklund, who in real life maintained a short boxing career highlighted by his loss via decision to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978. JustJared scooped the first photos of Christian Bale, which shows the actor after losing a significant amount of weight in order to portray Dicky 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.
Dangerously committed to his role as drug addicted trainer and brother to Mark Wahlberg’s Mickey Ward, Christian Bale walks to the set of The Fighter on the afternoon of July 14, 2009, dressed in a boxing trainer’s smock with his character’s name emblazoned on the front pocket. Coincidentally, hall of fame boxer Sugar Ray Leonard also appeared near the trailers, sporting a tuxedo for his role in the film. Bale plays Dickie Eklund, who in real life maintained a short boxing career highlighted by his loss via decision to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978.
