Tomei tag teams with Rourke for ‘The Wrestler’

Merge together her recent roles in Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and Factotum and you might get the byproduct of what Marisa Tomei has just signed up to play. Variety reports that the actress is getting the female lead in Darren Aronofsky‘s indie drama – the film is currently shooting in New York and New Jersey.

Written by Robert Siegel, The Wrestler centers on Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Rourke), a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again. In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper (Tomei) and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

For those in or visiting NYC in the spring, you can catch Tomei in the Broadway piece directed by James Macdonald called Top Girls.