Michael Clarke Duncan has officially boarded (Moviehole first reported his casting back in December) multi award winning director/writer/actor Kent Moran’s upcoming boxing drama, “The Challenger”, Wishing Well Pictures announced today.

Press release follows :

When he and his adopted mother are evicted from their home, struggling Bronx auto mechanic Jaden Miller (Kent Moran) is forced back into the one thing he’s run from his entire life: fighting. With the help of a legendary trainer (Michael Clarke Duncan), Miller will do everything in his power to save his family from living on the streets.

Kent Moran (LISTEN TO YOUR HEART) wrote and will star in the drama. S. Epatha Mekerson recently signed on to play Moran’s adopted mother. Justin Hartley (“Smallville”), Ernie Sabella (THE LION KING) and Lindsay Hartley (“All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives”) will round out the cast.

Michael Clarke Duncan, who was recognized for his role in THE GREEN MILE, opposite Tom Hanks, can currently be seen in Fox’s crime drama, “The Finder.” S. Epatha Meckerson received multiple awards for her role as Rachel ‘Nanny’ Crosby in the 2006 award winning HBO miniseries, “Lackawanna Blues.” She will next be seen in Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field and John Hawkes. Kent Moran was widely recognized for his role as lead actor, writer, director and producer on the 2010 festival gem, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, where he starred opposite renowned actress, Cybill Shepherd. Teen heartthrob Justin Hartley is known for his role in the successful WB Television Network adventure drama “Smallville” and recently signed on to star in the CW medical drama “First Cut.”

Moran’s production company, Wishing Well Pictures, will wholly produce THE CHALLENGER, which began filming this month in New York City. Moran will also direct.