Oscar Award-nominated actress Melissa Leo is in talks to play as Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg's mother in "The Fighter" for Paramount Pictures.

The film will center on the Boston boxer "Irish" Micky Ward on how he achieved the world lightweight championship with the help of his half-brother Dicky Eklund. Walhberg will play Ward and Bale will be Eklund.

David O. Russell ("Spanking the Monkey") will direct.

Leo will next be seen in the upcoming drama "Veronika Decides to Die," based on Paulo Coelho's novel of the same name. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jonathan Tucker are co-starring.

She will also be in the indie film "Welcome to the Rileys" with James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart.