Emma Watson, Liev Schreiber and Julianne Moore have all been linked to the new Darren Aronofsky biblical epic NOAH, starring Russell Crowe.
Back in April, we reported that Crowe-Bags had signed on as the beardy Biblical boat builder, but that was the only casting news for a while. Now there’s a whole bunch of names attached to the project. Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER) has stepped in to replace Dakota Fanning, who had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts, as ‘a young female lead.’ Watson would likely be playing the love interest of one of Noah’s sons, played by Douglas Booth (LOL, the upcoming ROMEO AND JULIET) and Logan Lerman (Watson’s co-star in PERKS…).
The coveted role of Noah’s wife Naameth has two main contenders vying for it, Julianne Moore (assuming there is no conflict with CARRIE) and Jennifer Connelly. The antagonist will likely be played by Liev Schreiber, who has villainous credentials as Sabretooth in X:MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE.
Watson’s star is rising like a feather in a charms class. She has just wrapped on Sofia Coppola’s THE BLING RING, is apparently playing herself in Seth Rogen’s co-directorial debut THE END OF THE WORLD, is expected to play the lead in Guillermo Del Toro’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and will next be seen in Stephen Chobsky’s THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER.
Aronofsky co-wrote NOAH with longtime collaborator Ari Handel (who produced BLACK SWAN and THE WRESTLER) and John Logan, one of Hollywood’s most in demand screenwriters and the man who penned the upcoming SKYFALL and LINCOLN. He also wrote GLADIATOR (2000) which made Russell Crowe a household name.
Whoever lands these roles, Aronofsky will have a tip top cast for his grand Biblical epic. I just hope they’ve all practised their phone-dodging in case Crowe gets cabin fever on that ark of his.
NOAH is to be released on the 28th of March, 2014.
