By Mark Vester

According to Variety Magazine, The Departed co-stars, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, have been chosen by Paramount for the lead roles in the upcoming boxing drama The Fighter. Shooting for the film will begin in early summer in Massachusetts.

The movie is about fan favorite fighter ''Irish'' Micky Ward, who retired from the sport a few years ago. The movie will focus on Ward's rise to the lightweight title with the help of half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded after struggles with drugs and crime.

It was reported that the actors will commit after evaluating a rewrite by House executive producer Paul Attanasio.

Damon and Wahlberg are both from Massachusetts, like the Ward brothers.