After spending the better part of the last decade trying to get off the ground, this may finally be the year for The Fighter. With director David O. Russell onboard and three Oscar-caliber actors in Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale (I know he’s never been nominated but is anybody gonna contest me on Bale’s acting chops?), and Melissa Leo signed up as well, things were already looking good. Now they’re looking even better, as another Oscar-nominated actress has joined the bunch — Amy Adams.

It’s no secret that we absolutely adore Adams here at c, vt, and her added involvement takes a project that we were already thrilled about and turns it into something that we’re going to be chomping at the bit to see take shape. A quick review of the plot: the film follows the life of Irish Boxer and native Bostonian Mickey “Irish” Ward (Wahlberg) as he goes from a failing prizefighter to a champion pugilist with the help of his ex-con/trainer brother Dick Eklund (Bale). Leo will play their mother and Adams will play Charlene, a tough bartender and former college high-jumper (not sure why that’s relevant…) who ends up dating Ward.

The description of the role will inevitably draw comparisons to Amy Ryan’s stunning performance in Gone Baby Gone, but Adams is no slouch in the face of stiff competition — she has held her own opposite Meryl Streep, after all. I’m stoked to see her take on a more mature role after a recent string of more family-oriented fare. Anybody else getting as excited for The Fighter as I am?

Tags: Amy Adams, Christian Bale, David O. Russell, Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo, The Fighter