Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson will star in "Resurrecting the Champ," the Rod Lurie-directed drama which the Yari Film Group & Phoenix Pictures is producing reports Variety.

Hartnett will play a young reporter who finds a homeless man who he thinks is a famous former boxer. But the fighter, with whom he has developed a close relationship, proves not to be the former champ.

Lurie has directed "The Contender" and created ABC's "Commander in Chief" is handling the script based on a series of articles written by Los Angeles Times reporter J.R. Moehringer. Filming begins June 19th in Calgary.