Darren Aronofsky didn't turn down the X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel The Wolverine for nothing, and that something was the biblical epic Noah, based on a comic book Aronofsky wrote himself. After Christian Bale was recently rumored for the part, it's now official that he has passed on the offer and Aronofsky is now eyeing Michael Fassbender to take his place.
According to Variety, Bale dropped out of the film in favor of doing some Terrence Malick films. With that on top of the major marketing road ahead for The Dark Knight Rises, it's not hard to see why Bale can't take the part. Fassbender on the other hand has been on a roll in the box office this year, staring with X-Men First Class, then A Dangerous Method, and just this week he's getting praise for his new film Shame.
But in reality he really doesn't have a busy schedule, with his next two films Steven Soderbergh's Haywire and Ridley Scott's Prometheus already filmed. Fassbender is being rumored for many future roles in a big films though, including the lead in the RoboCop remake, and as the next man to fill the James Bond suit after Daniel Craig. Other than only actually confirmed film that Fassbender will be filming is 12 Years A Slave, it's safe to say he can make room for Noah.
With a talented director like Aronofsky at its head (Black Swan is a strong argument), an actor like Fassbender in the lead role, and a twenty three million dollar budget, Noah seems to definitely be going in the right direction. Hopefully it doesn't end up as controversial as other religious films such as Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, and more like Aronofsky's previous Biblical film The Fountain. And it seems Aronofsky already knows what he's doing, having already basically written a graphic novel version of the film.
What do you think of Fassbender taking Bale's place as Noah? Are you looking forward to Noah?
