Matt Damon: 'Christian Bale was right for The Fighter'

Matt Damon has revealed that he has no regrets for passing on an opportunity to appear in the Oscar-winning drama The Fighter.

The actor dropped out of the film, along with original director Darren Aronofsky. David O. Russell went on to direct the boxing drama.

Christian Bale took on the role of 'Irish' Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg)'s half-brother Dicky Eklund, originally intended for Damon. Bale won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the part.

Damon told the Daily Record that Bale was "right" for the role after watching his award-winning performance.

"I was supposed to play Christian's role and I dropped out," he said. "Darren Aronofsky was going to direct it and we both dropped out.

"But I look at Christian's performance and go, 'My God, the right actor got the part.'"

The Office star John Krasinski will appear in Damon's forthcoming directorial debut.

Damon will next be filming Liberace, in which he plays the lover of Michael Douglas's titular pianist, followed by Neill Blomkamp's Elysium.

Watch the trailer for The Fighter below: