It has now been confirmed that Russell Crowe will play Biblical boat builder Noah in Darren Aronofsky's film of the same name. Here is the press release from Paramount Pictures..
HOLLYWOOD, CA (April 22, 2012) – Paramount Pictures and New Regency Productions jointly announced today that Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe has been cast as Noah in Academy Award®-nominated director Darren Aronofsky’s feature film of the same name. Paramount will release the film on March 28, 2014.
Said Aronofsky, “I’d like to thank Paramount and Regency for backing my team’s work to breathe new life into the biblical epic. I rejoice that Russell Crowe will be by my side on this adventure. It’s his immense talent that helps me to sleep at night. I look forward to being wowed by him every day.”
NOAH is a close adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. In a world ravaged by human sin, Noah is given a divine mission: to build an Ark to save creation from the coming flood. The screenplay was written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel and revised by Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter John Logan (GLADIATOR, HUGO).
Scott Franklin and Aronofsky of Protozoa Pictures, along with Mary Parent of Disruption Entertainment, will produce the film. The film will be executive produced by Ari Handel (BLACK SWAN), Arnon Milchan of New Regency and Chris Brigham (INCEPTION, ARGO).
Liam Neeson and Jennifer Connolly have also been rumored to be up for roles, but as nothing is mentioned about them here I guess we'll have to wait and see if that's confirmed/debunked.
Noah is expected to start shooting thsi Summer in New York and Iceland.