David Glasser, president of international at The Weinstein Company, has acquired The Fighter in selected territories from Relativity Media and is close to finalising deals for Germany, France, Spain and South Korea.

David O Russell will direct and Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale will star in the true story of boxer “Irish” Mickey Ward, who emerged from his more famous brother’s shadow to become a title contender. Paramount holds North American rights.

Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson wrote the screenplay, with the most recent script drafts by Scott Silver and Lewis Colick.

”The Fighter is a great story, being portrayed by a phenomenal cast, that we know will be popular worldwide,” Glasser said. “It’s great to be working Relativity again, and we’re looking forward to sharing this film with an international audience.”

“It is a privilege to be working with The Weinstein Company,” Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh said. “Their amazing body of work shows an incredible commitment to quality cinema, both domestically and internationally. This is such an emotionally charged film, with a universal story.”

The Weinsteins’ COO Lee Solomon, executive vice-president of business and legal affairs Laine Kline, and senior vice-president of business and legal affairs and acquisitions Michal Steinberg negotiated the deal with Relativity’s COO Andrew Marcus, executive vice-president of business and legal affairs Linda Benjamin and executive vice-president of business affairs and Philip Elway.

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