Brad Pitt is poised to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in "The Fighter," the Paramount Pictures drama about boxer Irish Mickey Ward and his unlikely path to become world lightweight champion.

Pitt is in discussions to play Dicky Eklund, Mickey's half-brother and a talented fighter who once went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard in a title fight but then turned to crime and landed in prison. Then he turned his life around and helped his underperforming brother find the spark for a remarkable run that led to the world title.

Scott Silver is working on the latest draft of the script, and the film will be directed by Darren Aronofsky.

-Brad Pitt Pictures