Movie News - Brad Pitt set to play disgraced boxer in new movie

22 September 2007 - Brad Pitt is set to play a disgraced boxer in a new movie.

The Hollywood actor is in talks to play Dickie Ecklund in drama 'The Fighter', which is based on the boxer's life.

Ecklund fought Sugar Ray Leonard for the world title but ended up addicted to crack-cocaine and in prison

The troubled pugilist eventually turned his life around and ended up training his boxer half-brother Mickey Ward in his pursuit of a light-welterweight world title.

Mark Wahlberg is set to take on the role on the role of Ecklund's younger sibling.

Although Ward never won a world title from any of boxing's top four organisations, he became a huge fan favourite and three of his fights were dubbed 'Fight of the Year' by US boxing bible Ring magazine.

News of Pitt's new role follows reports he is to be reunited on screen with Edward Norton.

The two actors - who starred together in the critically acclaimed 'Fight Club' in 1999 - will team up again in political thriller 'State of Play'.

Norton will play a congressman whose speedy political rise is threatened by an investigation into the death of his mistress, while Pitt will star as his journalist friend Cal McCaffrey.

(C) BANG Media International