UPDATE: Yahoo Board OKs $1.1B Deal To Acquire Tumblr … 
Cannes: Sony Classics Wins Stateside Rights To Asghar … 
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Breaks Records In … 
Specialty Box Office: ‘Frances Ha’ Triumphs As … 
‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Finale Posts … 
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $164.5M Global: Lower … 
Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim … 
Cannes: Sundance Selects Acquires Dardenne Brothers’ … 
Cannes: Wrekin Hill Acquires U.S. On Gabriele … 
Bill Hader’s ‘SNL’ Stefon Farewell: Video 
Cannes: The Weinstein Co. Books ‘Suite … 
BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To … 
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts Set For … 
Hammond On Cannes: Weinstein Brings Out Stars For 2013 … 
EXCLUSIVE: Darren Aronofsky is ready to set sail on Noah, the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. I’m hearing that the Black Swan director wants Russell Crowe to play the title role in the New Regency/Paramount film. I can’t tell you that this is all going to lead to a deal but signs are pointing that way. I have also heard Aronofsky wants The Grey star Liam Neeson for another role. It all starts with Noah, though and it’s nice to see Crowe, one of those larger than life actors, entertaining the prospect of taking on such an iconic role. From Gladiator, L.A. Confidential, The Insider and on down, few actors match his intensity and talent. Gladiator scribe John Logan rewrote the script by Aronofsky and Ari Handel and Aronofsky and Scott Franklin are producing with Mary Parent. Crowe is repped by WME.
Loading ...
Pretty awesome choice.
Come on, Neeson is already associated with so many films give it to a new face!
PLEASE!!
If you have Crowe, then they can afford to widen the casting net.
Shut it! I love Neeson, and apparently so does the public.
Pretty good.
Im a bit turned off by Crowe’s personality, which usual translates to me disliking his films (with the exception of Master and Commander and Gladiator). However, if he is Aronofsky’s first choice than I completely trust his vision.
I think the accent Crowe ends up using could make or break the character. The watered down British accent he uses in films like Gladiator gets very dull and boring after a while with his monotone voice. Typically period dramas set in an ancient world will use some variation of a Brit accent but that never really made sense to me. Im not exactly sure what a suitable alternative would be, though. A straight American accent probably wouldn’t work either. Once again, I trust Aronofsky’s decisions.
What exactly about his personality are you talking about? His temper on a couple of occasions where he lost it on someone? Try being an assistant on a desk anywhere in Hollywood. You’ll see much worse.
I’m sure Aranofsky will be relieved to know that you trust his vision.
And, there is nothing “watered down” about Crowe’s accent in Gladiator. Dull and boring? You said before that that GLADIATOR is a movie where you DO like Crowe.
So, you liked him in a movie where you felt he was dull, boring, and speaks in a watered down, monotone Brit accent?
Which is it?
what? Why don’t they use Hebrew? What are you talking about? Which typical period dramas are you referring to – they use some form of British accent because the actors and/or production is British or, in Crowe’s case, Australian.
They should use the most popular dialect from China, India, and Europe/US (English) to boost foreign box office sales.
Great choice. If they stick with the traditional story (and don’t add unnecessary content), they will be able to tap into an awesome audience full of Christians, Jews, and people (like me) who love well-made movies!
one wonders if the edgy director will include some of the more sullied parts of the biblical tale. i can’t see aronofsky creating anything quite so milquetoast as a sixties’ version of a bible movie.
Russell C. is a badass actor, perfect for the time period but more importantly he’s a man…brilliant casting for this film. The combination between him and Darren would be wicked… Really excited to see this film come together w/ this combo!
Russell floats my boat just fine, he’ll be great. Exciting to see Aronofsky and he team up together.
I’ll tell you who doesn’t float my boat, Scott Franklin, that guy is a tool. He really stepped in shit when he hooked up with Aronofsky
Yeah, he really stepped in shit with Black Swan, huh? Nominated for Best Picture and grossed over $300 million. Boy, does Franklin curse the day he partnered with Aronofsky.
I am wondering about Aronofsky’s vision of the Noah story. Crowe is a strong convincing actor and he would make a good Noah. As for an accent ,well shouldn’t it be middle eastern. That is where the flood story takes place.
Russell Crowe is a talented actor, but why would anyone hire him at this point?
He’s box office poison.
I just don’t recall native peoples of the Middle East (where the Bible states Noah’s story took place) looking like Russell Crowe.
Yes, but see, the people BEFORE the flood all looked buff and Australian. They all got wiped out except for Russell.
This is hilarious!!!!
Russell Crowe floats my boat in anything. The best actor working today and would be great as Noah.
The BEST actor alive…. INDEED !
Russell Crow a REAL MAN on screen, not a metrosexual pretty boy. I am mezmerized by each character he has brought to life on the silver screen. A REAL Movie Star!
Yes! he floats my boat……..
What is the word on the script and their approach?
Maybe Downey Jr. was unavailable.
Why is it everytime I read comments on Deadline there filled with bitter hate? I mean every freaking article sounds like screenwriters or actors who never mad it so they have to hate on other people success. Very sad.
Where did this come from? People are just reacting to the choice, and giving their reasons for their reactions..
Obviously there is a lot of LOVE in here for the director..
I agree with ovoxo, I don;t understand the negativity about Crowe. Sure he might have a bad reputation but the guy is great actor and delivers everytime
He’s OLD. The audience that grew up with him is getting older too, and they stay home now. The audience that gets out to theaters is young and they want to see THEIR OWN STARS, not their PARENTS’ stars. The stars get older, the audience gets younger, and Hollywood dolts wonder why the stars can’t pull in audiences anymore. When you were young, did you get excited about paying to see your parents’ stars, or did you go to movies featuring your own stars of your own generation? Why does this generation deserve any less than than previous generations? We deserve OUR OWN STARS.
Well, considering that Noah was 600 years old in the story (which probably equates to 50 or 60 years in Hollywood/movie age), Russell seems to be the appropriate demographic for this role.
Who would you rather, you sniveling brat? Robert Pattinson?
um, younger audiences wanting younger stars are “sniveling brats”? You sound like you rep a desperate old man and your money train is ending. You have a right to be angry and scared, because time marches on, and is leaving you behind. Be very scared.
Hear, hear! Zac Efron as “Noah”! Scratch that… how ’bout Tobey Maguire? No. Liam Hemsworth? Ashton Kutcher? Jake Gyllenhaal? Wait, you know what, maybe we “DESERVE” nothing. Maybe we should hike our skirts up, work our asses off for a LONG TIME, and when success finally rolls around, we should reconsider our thinking about what makes a “STAR”. Perhaps with age comes a sharper perspective, a more enlightened one. If nothing else, we’ll speak from a place of substance, not Jersey Shore injected ignorance.
Is this why Tom Cruise just pulled in a truckload with MI4?
-1 internetz
No thanks. Give someone else a shot at this please.
Aronofsky directing Russell in this role smells really good to me. Also, didn’t Russell’s uninspired Robin Hood movie do well worldwide, and that wasn’t that long ago? Get it creatively, get it from the studio’s POV, and get why it makes sense for Russell.
My my so much vitriol over a movie part. Crowe is not boxoffice poison anymore than Damon, Depp, Clooney or DiCaprio. Why would anyone spread such negativity? As for someone else playing the part how about Pattinson or Lautner? Now that would be interesting,don’t you think? Crowe and Aronofsky would make a good team.
It’s not based on the traditional bible tale. It’s based on a graphic novel of Noah as a kickass younger guy.
Charlie Sheen is starring in Roman Copolla’s next movie and seems primed for a major feature coneback, Downey Jr. style. I bet his quote is a fifth of Crowe’s plus he’s more famous and skinnier #winning
Hope Crowe has a horse to ride and a sword to twirl. It’s becoming his trademark like Tom Cruise running.
And, on another note, I don’t understand people posting about negativity. Most of these posts are observations…and, few are even sarcastic like this one.
I believe that this is a risky movie concept, but that doesn’t mean I am against the bible.
Charlie Sheen? Oh yeah? A comeback huh? As Noah? Man it must be getting late.
Noah? Really? Do we need another movie about the ark? Didn’t Steve Carrell do a comedy version that sucked? So do we need a dramatic version that also sucks? I don’t care who directs it, a Noah film is going to blow. Oh, wait, they’re gonna do it in 3-D. I feel much better.
Yes! That would be perfect for Russell Crowe to play “NOAH” in the motion picture. It’s about time they make biblical movies for the silver screen. This will be a great companion piece to GODS AND KINGS if Steven Spielberg should direct. They should stick with the biblical accounts for accuracy. There is a man in Sweden, I believe, who has totally constructed a Noah’s Ark and would like to display it in London during the London Summer Olympics.