Remakes are difficult enough, but when you're creating a film based on a story from the Bible that happened eons ago, the challenges increase.
Director Darren Aronofsky is creating a blockbuster version of the epic tale of Noah and his ark. Of all the problems that have arisen, the latest seems to be a clash between Paramount and the director over audience reactions. The studio has asked Aranofsky to make some changes, but he doesn't want to budge on his vision, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
An anonymous source told THR, "Darren is not made for studio films. He's very dismissive. He doesn't care about (Paramount's) opinion."
The specifics about the film remain unclear, but reactions from Jewish, Christian and general audiences are reportedly "troubling" enough for Paramount to request some alterations.
After reading a version of the script, faith-based screenwriter Brian Godawa wrote a blog post about how the film was "deeply anti-biblical in its moral vision," and said the film was an ancient warning against global warming.
However when the movie was screened for audiences at the faith-based media retreat, Echo, results were positive.
"There’s no point in hiring a sui generis filmmaker like Darren Aronfsky and then expecting him to crank out a boilerplate DeMille-style Biblical Epic," wrote Jason Bailey at Flavorwire. "They hired the guy, and they knew what they were getting, and now that he’s delivered it, suddenly everybody’s panicking."
With "Noah," Aronfsky opted to use CGI animals, including fantastic beasts and some slightly altered versions of animals we might expect. The film is slated for release on March 28 and stars Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connolley, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.
email: ataylor@deseretnews.com