Darren Aronofsky to Train "The Fighter"

Striving to bounce back after getting stumbled on the disappointing result of "The Fountain", Darren Aronofsky is in negotiations to helm boxing drama "The Fighter" which is currently being set up at Paramount Pictures, Variety has learned.

Based on the life account of Boston boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, the picture takes focus on his rise to the Light Welterweight world championship with the help of his trainer who is also his down-and-out half-brother Dickie Eklund. "The Departed" stars Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon have both been poised to topline the flick as Ward and Eklund, respectively.

In bringing up the project to life, "The Good German" scribe Paul Attanasio has been tapped to rewrite the script originally penned by Lewis Collick, Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy. If Wahlberg and Damon like the rewrite, the movie could as well be their next vehicle with an eye to enter production in early summer in Massachusetts.