Photo: Nico Henrichon
Looks like Darren Aronofsky's Noah must wait no longer as Paramount Pictures has issued a press releases jointly announcing Paramount and New Regency Productions will team to bring Aronofsky's long-awaited Biblical epic to the big screen with John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator) coming aboard to re-write the script by Aronofsky and Ari Handel. Aronofsky and Scott Franklin will produce the movie.
The film is reported to carry a $150 million budget with Paramount and New Regency splitting the bill on what is said to be an "edgy re-telling" of Noah's story. Back in 2007, Aronofsky told The Guardian, "Noah was the first person to plant vineyards and drink wine and get drunk. It's there in the Bible -- it was one of the first things he did when he reached land. There was some real survivor's guilt going on there. He's a dark, complicated character."
A year later he would tell Slashfilm, "It's a really cool project and I think it's really timely because it's about environmental apocalypse which is the biggest theme, for me, right now for what's going on on this planet. So I think it's got these big, big themes that connect with us. Noah was the first environmentalist. He's a really interesting character. Hopefully they'll let me make it."
I also interviewed Aronofsky in 2008 and at that time he told me, "We're actually going to do a graphic novel of it right now, we're just starting it, and we're hiring a writer." Pages of the graphic novel as well as the video at the bottom of this post, with art from Canadian artist Nico Henrichon, surfaced earlier this year.
Then, in June, Christian Bale was rumored to be up for the lead role and the rumor popped up again in August, which was when I asked you "Which Post-The Dark Knight Rises Option Would You Like to See Christian Bale Star in Next?" The winning film on that poll... Darren Aronofsky's Noah.
Aronofsky is quoted in today's press release saying, "Since I was a kid, I have been moved and inspired by the story of Noah and his family's journey. The imaginations of countless generations have sparked to this epic story of faith. It's my hope that I can present a window into Noah's passion and perseverance for the silver screen."
I can't wait to see what he has in store.
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I hope Bale signs on and climbs aboard. Is anyone else rumored for the role?
Aronofsky should hire John Woodmorappe as a technical advisor for the film:
http://www.icr.org/article/resource-for-answering-critics-noahs-ark/
http://creation.com/noahs-flood-questions-and-answers
Good call, other David! I've read that book, and it's fascinating to think of all that we now know (and maybe knew in the past but forgot) that could make possible the building of a large wooden structure that would house the few thousand kinds of land animals involved along with the food they would need for one year. Don't know if Aronofsky's interested in verisimilitude, though.
"Noah was the first person to plant vineyards and drink wine and get drunk.... There was some real survivor's guilt going on there. He's a dark, complicated character."
Argh, that's misunderstood and has a good bit of reading between the lines. It's not clear that Noah was the first, but if so, it might have been accidental, due to changes in the biome/environment. There's no indication in the Bible that Noah got drunk on purpose or ha "survivor's guilt," although I can't rule it out for sure.
"... I think it's really timely because it's about environmental apocalypse which is the biggest theme, ... Noah was the first environmentalist. ..."
Sounds like a real stretch to find some relevancy for people who wouldn't otherwise be interested.
"...The imaginations of countless generations have sparked to this epic story of faith. It's my hope that I can present a window into Noah's passion and perseverance ..."
Now that sounds much more encouraging! Faith, passion, and perseverance -- I'd like to see a movie showcasing those qualities for a change!