Variety report that
The Dark Knight Rises star has passed on Darren Aronofsky's
Noah, with the director now said to be pursuing
X-Men: First Class' Michael Fassbender for the lead role in the Biblical epic. While no official offer has been made at this point (
Deadline add that Bale was the top choice but was forced to pass on the project due to commitments to Terrence Malick's
Lawless and
Knight Of Cups) the actor has reportedly spoken to Aronofsky and is available after work on Warner Bros. and Rupert Wyatt's
Londongrad has come to a halt. Production on
Noah is expected to begin early next year, with a script by Aronofsky and Ari Handel which was subsequently rewritten by
Gladiator and
Skyfall scribe John Logan.