Caption: Hollywood magic was at work Thursday afternoon as a dingy Boston gym was transformed into Las Vegas’ Caesar’s Palace to re-enact the memorable Mickey Ward vs. Alfonso Sanchez battle from April 12, 1997. Mark Wahlberg looked to be in amazing shape as he danced around the ring and exchanged blows with the actor playing Sanchez, real life boxer Miguel Espino. Wahlberg received some movie boxing advice from director David O. Russell when his punches started getting too strong and later was dressed with makeup to make it look like he had received a beating. The fight being recreated had Wahlberg’s Ward getting beat to a bloody pulp before taking control in the 7th round with his signature devastating body blow, knocking Sanchez out cold. It was a major comeback for Ward after 3 years out of the ring working construction and manual labor.

GALLERY LINKS:
• “The Fighter” – Filming – 07-15-09

I uploaded a few more photos of Mark on set for “The Fighter” on July 15th. He looks like he’s having a great time filming. Can’t wait to see this!

GALLERY LINKS:
• “The Fighter” – Filming – 07-15-09

The Lexington Flick movie theater was closed last night for the filming of “The Fighter,’’ the biopic about Lowell boxer “Irish” Micky Ward. Actor Mark Wahlberg, who plays Ward in the film, and Amy Adams, who costars as his girlfriend, were working at the Mass. Ave. cinema well into the evening, filming in front of the Flick building and in one of its screening rooms. “The Fighter,’’ which costars Christian Bale, wraps next Wednesday.

Caption: Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams walk back to their positions between takes during filming of a scene for “The Flighter” outside the Lexington Flick.

GALLERY LINKS:
• “The Fighter” – Filming – Unknown date
Source: Boston Globe

I finally got my hands on photos of Mark filming his upcoming movie “The Fighter” costarring Christian Bale. Check out the photos and look out for more!

GALLERY LINKS:
• “The Fighter” – Filming – 07-21-09
• “The Fighter” – Filming – 07-29-09

Christian Bale’s setting off all kinds of alarms again.

Filming of The Fighter is underway in Massachusetts, and we have a super spy on the set giving us some dee-lish deets. Seems the big three (Bale, Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams) were all on location at the retro-hip Olympia Restaurant, a frequent hang for past real-life fighters like Mickey Ward.

You remember that perfectionist Bale likes to do things as realistically as possible, right? He’s slimmed down dangerously for parts before (like The Machinist), and now the emaciated actor’s doing it again.

“[Christian] has lost almost as much weight as he did for The Machinist. He is so gaunt,” blab our eyes, standing right next to the Batman star. (Read full story …)

If you have a nice older car you could be in a movie this weekend.

Boston Casting is looking for extras for scenes in the new Mark Wahlberg movie “The Fighter.”

They’re shooting Friday and Saturday night in Lowell.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, they’re “looking for a couple of nicer cars (re: Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, etc.) from before 1993.” People can also work as extras with their cars. (Read full story …)

Amy Adams could star with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg in the David O. Russell-directed drama The Fighter, Variety reports. She’s in negotiations to play a gritty bartender who ends up dating Wahlberg’s character, “Irish” Mickey Ward; the film, which begins shooting this summer, tells the story of Ward’s journey from the streets of Lowell, Mass., to the world lightweight championship with the help of his brother, played by Bale.
Source: Entertainment Weekly

Frozen River star Melissa Leo is poised to add The Fighter to her queue of roles following her Oscar nomination this year, according to Variety.
The movie will star Mark Wahlberg as a boxer and Christian Bale as his half-brother. Originally slated for director Darren Aronofsky as a kind of follow-up to The Wrestler, the movie will now be directed by David O. Russell, with plans to shoot this summer.

Leo will also star in the new David Simon/HBO series Treme and several other projects.
Source: Paste Magazine

On Saturday, May 30th, Boston Casting, a local feature film casting company, is holding an open casting call at the Lowell VFW Hall for a new Mark Wahlberg film, The Fighter. The casting call will be held from 10 am – 4 pm, and is open to union and non-union actors who are 18 years of age and older.

Most specifically, the casting company is looking for people that meet the following requirements for open roles in the film:

Everyone who attends the casting call must bring a headshot and resume or a current photo and biography to the audition.

The Fighter is a full feature movie that profiles the life of professional boxer Micky Ward, who is originally from Lowell, Massachusetts. Although the film was put on hold for some time, it was expected that it would reunite co-stars from The Departed, Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon.
Source: Lowell.com

This may be the sternest film that goes into production this year — but given the names involved, it will probably be one of the best. Variety is reporting that Christian Bale has joined Mark Wahlberg for “The Fighter,” and that David O. Russell may be along to direct the grim, tense ride.

“The Fighter” is the true life tale of Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward (played by Wahlberg), who was coached to the world lightweight championship by his half-brother, Dicky Eklund (played by Bale). After suffering a number of defeats, Ward was ready to retire until pushed back into the ring by his brother. (Read full story …)