Darren Aronofsky Says 'Noah' Will Be His "Big Event Film"

by Edward Davis
June 20, 2011 7:03 AM
14 Comments

Director Doesn't Confirm Christian Bale, But It Seems Pretty Obvious

When your sitting in Jerry Bruckheimer's office and you're discussing next summer's big event film, the type of film you're generally discussing is usually along the lines of "Pearl Harbor," "Pirates Of The Caribbean," "Independence Day," a Will Smith film that features robots or Tommy Lee Jones, "2012," "Godzilla Destroys Things In New York," "The Avengers" and a bar mitzvah hosted by Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay.

But if you're filmmaker Darren Aronofsky ("The Fountain," "Requiem For A Dream") an "event movie" has very different connotations. The "Black Swan" director seems hellbent on making his next project his biggest and most ambitious to date -- a $130 Million take on the bible's Noah's Ark tale.

Of course this story was recently told, to some extent at least, by Universal's "Evan Almighty" starring Steve Carell, but of course no one would blame you if you didn't see the similarties (or the film) -- Tom Shadyac's pictures ("Ace Ventura") obviously being in another galaxy than Aronofsky's.

The director recently caught up with IFC at the 2011 Provincetown International Film Festival, and gave a small update on the picture, noting that maybe Mr. Emmerich should possibly pay attention.

"I don't think it's a very religious story," Aronofsky told IFC. "I think it's a great fable that's part of so many different religions and spiritual practices. I just think it's a great story that's never been on film. I want to make a big event film, and I think it can be that."

A big event film and the guy that directed the micro-budgeted "Pi" or even the small-scale and comedic, "The Wrestler"? It's not as absurd as it sounds. Aronofsky has flirted with big tentpoles throughout the years. He obviously almost directed "The Wolverine" with Hugh Jackman (bailing recently because of lack of creative control), pitched a "Year One" Batman film to Warner Bros. with Frank Miller that eventually morphed into Christopher Nolan's totally different "Batman Begins" and attempted to mount a $70 million version of "The Fountain" starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett a few years before the eventual 2006 version starring Jackman and Aronofsky's ex-partner Rachel Weisz.

And as ridiculous as this might sound regardless of all the evidence that the director's been building towards this, "Black Swan" was a mega-hit. Made for $13 million and grossing $323 million worldwide, Aronofsky should hopefully now fully possess the clout to pull this off.

As for the rumors of Christian Bale, joining the "Noah" project as its lead, not forgetting Aronofsky was the first one to pitch Bale as Batman to Warner Bros.? "No comment," he said with a grin. Should we assume that means, happy days, we're just waiting for the funding to come through? Let's hope so.

More: Films, Actors, Noah's Ark

14 Comments

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cjfilm | June 22, 2011 11:01 AMReply

Aronofsky is the man but he has the Scorsese curse – a great auteur, the defining vision for his generation but those guys never get the mega budgets because their take is left of center - and I mean that in the most complementary way possible. If this film gets made for 50 mil, it will be a miracle. "The Wrestler" was a comedy?
Knaves, onward! | June 21, 2011 5:11 AMReply

I found the part in the Wrestler when Mickey Rourke's fingers get chopped off exceedingly hilarious, and remember doubling up in laughter when I first saw it. Fun times.
Knaves! | June 21, 2011 5:10 AMReply

I found the part in the Wrestler when Mickey Rourke's fingers get chopped off exceedingly hilarious, and remember doubling up in laughter when I first saw it. Fun times.
The Ram | June 21, 2011 3:28 AMReply

Just because a movie has one or two mildly amusing moments doesn't make it comedic. Likewise, Fargo ain't a sports movie just because it shows a guy watching a hockey game on TV.
jimmiescoffee | June 20, 2011 11:25 AMReply

religion? boooo. heres hoping for a fucked up take on this fairy tale.
Nik Grape | June 20, 2011 8:57 AMReply

Hahaha. I can't speak for anyone else but though the Wrestler had great comedic moments (his suspicion of his daughter being a lesbian, some conversations between the wrestlers, his relationship with the boy as examples) I don't think they make a film, which tells a tragic story of a broken man, comedic.

But to each his own. I honestly thought that you didn't like the film when I read that description. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case..
Edward Davis | June 20, 2011 8:24 AMReply

Seriously? The Wrestler had TONS of unexpected comedy in it!!! Surprisingly funny. Sure, it's very soulful and dramatic, but there's lots of humor in it too.

If you missed that well... ok, well i won't say you should take up roller skating as a full time hobby, but, you know...
Rowdy Bitches | June 20, 2011 8:17 AMReply

you guys have a strange sense of humor if you find "The Wrestler" to be "comedic". Also, is there any word if this is actually set thousands of years ago, or if this is some apocalyptic update?
carrie | June 20, 2011 8:13 AMReply

i feel like the first time i heard to talk THE SOCIAL NETWORK by Fincher:"what is this stuff?"
hmm | June 20, 2011 7:55 AMReply

The one snag that still might scuttle this film is finding a studio willing to give him full creative control of his mustache.
SpenceNicholson | June 20, 2011 7:43 AMReply

"comedic The Wrestler" um what?
Nik Grape | June 20, 2011 7:42 AMReply

Keeping my fingers crossed for this one.

On a sidenote, funny that 'comedic' is one the first things that popped in mind here for The Wrestler
Eric | June 20, 2011 7:27 AMReply

I don't know if $65 million would be enough. Aronofsky certainly is capable of making great films with a low budget, but his vision for this story sounds epic and I don't think it could ever be made that way for so little.
Cory Everett | June 20, 2011 7:16 AMReply

Maybe he's using his experience on "The Fountain" to bluff his way into getting this film made. Say it's got a $130 million budget but really have a $65 million version planned in his head (which is the version he's been hoping to make all along)... Or not.