Darren Aronofsky to Direct Noah’s Ark Movie?

Posted by on September 15th, 2008   Filed under: Drama, Fantasy, Rumours
Source: /Film

With Fox Searchlight having picked up The Wrestler and preparing it for a December release, Darren Aronofsky is already off and running on his next feature film. It is called, strangely enough, The Fighter, and it is a biopic about boxer “Irish” Micky Ward with Mark Wahlberg lined up to star. However, there are plenty of other ideas floating around in Aronofsky’s head as well, and it seems that one of the other possible projects on the horizon for this gifted filmmaker is a movie based on the story of Noah’s Ark.

According to /Film, Aronofsky has been interested in the story since he was a kid, when he wrote a poem “about the end of the world as seen through the eyes of Noah”. He recently decided to revisit the subject with The Fountain co-writer Ari Handel.

“We have an amazing screenplay. It’s a great script and it’s HUGE. And we’re starting to feel out talent. And then we’ll probably try and set it up… It’s the end of the world and it’s the second most famous ship after the Titanic. So I’m not sure why any studio won’t want to make it. 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.”

Great, just what we need… not only is it another movie with an environmental theme, but it’s based on a biblical story as well! As much as I dig Aronofsky’s work, I can’t say I’m all that interested in this idea outside of the fact that he would be directing it. I thought he would have gotten his fill of spiritual stuff from doing The Fountain, but apparently not. Evan Almighty is proof enough that this concept is a bad idea! Would you pay to see Darren Aronofsky tell the tale of Noah the World’s First Environmentalist?



  • Couldn’t you argue that Darren Aronofsky already made a movie based on the Bible–Pi–even though it was based on a more apocryphal and esoteric tale surrounding it? I think he handled that pretty well. The environmentalist thing could be annoying if it gets too preachy. Otherwise, I’d be interested in seeing his take on Noah’s Ark.

    This guy’s piling up a lot on his plate isn’t he?

  • “Great, just what we need… not only is it another movie with an environmental theme, but it’s based on a biblical story as well!”

    A fairly ignorant statement, Sean. First of all, it is nothing but silly when people are so closed minded about stories from the Bible, an incredible book from our history that is full of tons of great mythological stories that are each full of interesting, complex characters. Secondly, Noah is a mythological tale that dates as far back as 10th century BC and is a major story in three major world religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. It is no different than taking on the story of Homer’s Odyssey really.

    It would be a very ballsy move on Aronofsky to take this project on, and I have a feeling it would rely far less on the spiritual side of things and more on the man Noah himself.

    “Evan Almighty is proof enough that this concept is a bad idea!”

    Ha ha. Are you really comparing a Tom Shadyac (you know, the guy behind Ace Ventura and The Nutty Professor) directed, Steve Carrell starring comedy to what Aronofsky could do with the story! Madness.

  • Yeah I was just joking about Evan Almighty.

    But it’s been my experience that most stories in the Bible are fairly simple and not worthy of a feature length movie. But again, if Aronofsky did do it, I’m sure I’d at least give it a chance.

  • Mike

    “But it’s been my experience that most stories in the Bible are fairly simple and not worthy of a feature length movie”

    What have you been watching? Veggie Tales?

    The Bible could make for some fantastic movies… look at the Matrix. The fact that most people who make Biblical movies are Christians that are trying to convert is what ruins the stories. Aranofsky could really put a new perspective on this. I’d be really interested to see a movie he directs with a huge budget as well.

  • Liz

    While ago on those entertainment snippets they play before the movies start, they mentioned that Casey Affleck is also working on a movie based on Noah’s Ark. I wonder if this is the same film.