Summary
Mark Wahlberg reflects on his extensive training and filming difficulties forThe Fighter. Directed by David O' Russell,The Fighterfollows the true story of Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, the former a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older brother and get his own shot at greatness. Wahlberg leads the film’s cast as Micky Ward alongside Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo.
Appearing onVariety’s series in which actors are quizzed on lines from their most famous movies and TV shows,Wahlberg reflected on his extensive training and filming difficulties forThe Fighter. Watch the portion of the video below, starting at the 3:24 minute mark:
Wahlberg says the long and challenging process of makingThe Fighterinvolved years of intense training, which ultimately helped him become more convincing in the role of a boxer. Despite numerous setbacks, including losing key actors and directors, the extended period of preparation made his portrayal more authentic. Read his full reflection below:
I trained for five years carrying around a… Like you see these crates that carry the lights and stuff? I was carrying speed bags and double end bags and shit. We had the movie, was a go at Paramount, had a big budget, and then it fell apart. And then we lost Darren Aronofsky, and we lost Brad Pitt, and then we lost Matt Damon. Then it became an independent film with David O. Russell and Christian. The way we ended up making it, it took five years on and off. So, but the thing with the boxing is it wasn’t like, okay, I trained for the five months leading up to the initial production schedule. It fell apart, and then once we finally got the green light, I could just kind of pick up, either pick up where I left off or retain those skills. So, the only good part about that length of time was it allowed me to be that much more believable as a guy who could win the World Three title, versus an actor who you’ve seen many times looking like, well he probably has never been in a real fight, but I think we could cut and shoot here, and lots of editing, so, ‘cause we shot all the fights in real time, and we tried to make it as real as possible. No, it was a lot of training.
The Fighter’s Filming Difficulties & Mark Wahlberg’s Training Explained
He Trained For Five Years Of Filming Difficulties
In 2003, fresh off the success of8 Mile, Eminem was the first choice to play Micky Ward, but he declined the role, so Matt Damon was also considered for the part.Wahlberg joinedThe Fighterin 2005, which had long been a passion project for him, and Darren Aronofsky was hired to direct. Production was set to begin in 2008 with Christian Bale replacing Brad Pitt, but by then, Aronofsky had left to focus on other projects, so Wahlberg chose Russell, having worked with him previously onThree KingsandI Heart Huckabees.
Meanwhile, all through the long pre-production process,Wahlberg was committed to an intense bodybuilding regimen. He dedicated five years to sculpting a muscular physique convincing enough to play a professional fighter, enlisting Freddie Roach as his boxing coach to master Mickey Ward’s unique fighting style, while receiving additional instruction from Manny Pacquiao. During the previous sixfilms Wahlberg worked on, he was simultaneously preparing forThe Fighter.For the final two years of training, he built a gym in his home, complete with a personal boxing ring.
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ThoughThe Fighteris one of the stronger performances of Wahlberg’s career,it was the film’s supporting performances that won Oscars. Bale received his first nomination and won for his portrayal of Mickey’s brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund, a former boxer struggling with drug addiction, while Melissa Leo also won an Oscar for her performance as Alice Eklund-Ward, the mother of both fighters. While Wahlberg’s intense preparation was pivotal forThe Fighter’s authenticity, the film is perhaps better remembered for its Oscar-winning supportingperformances by Baleand Melissa Leo.
The Fighter
Cast
The Fighter is a biographical sports film based on the true story of boxer Micky Ward and his older brother Dicky Eklund. Micky, who has fallen from grace after his legendary bout with Sugar Ray Leonard and losses along the way, is participating in an interview that he believes is about his boxing career but turns out to be a piece on crack addiction. Seeking redemption and a way back into the ring, Mickey and Dicky train together to restore their family’s honor and repair a broken home.
