Director Gavin O'Connor has signed on Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Morrison to star in Warrior, a drama set in the world of mixed martial arts fighting for Lionsgate.

According to Variety, Nolte plays an ex-Vietnam vet boxer-turned-steel mill worker whose family was torn apart by his alcoholism; the now-sober and remorseful dad welcomes back his youngest son (Hardy) and trains him to compete in a mixed martial arts tournament. He and his older brother, played by Edgerton, are on a collision course in the ring.

O'Connor wrote the script with Anthony Tambakis, and the helmer will produce with brother Greg O'Connor.

Production begins in April in Pittsburgh.

Warrior was released September 9th, 2011 and stars Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Kevin Dunn, Maximiliano Hernández, Bryan Callen. The film is directed by Gavin O'Connor.