Darren Aronofsky wants Christian Bale for Noah

Vulture says Darren Aronofsy hopes to calm studio jitters about the $130 million he wants to spend on Noah by attaching a star big enough to captain the legendary ship.

Aronofsky is in talks with Christian Bale about possibly starring in his take on Noah’s Ark, to help secure studio backing for it. Presumably, Aronofsky wants Bale for the lead, even though Noah was 600 years old when the Great Flood hit, and Bale is only 37.

Regardless, locking down Bale early — even before there’s money to make an offer — would have the twofold benefit of both securing a leading man and helping land the rest of the money needed to make such an expensive, effects-driven film. If Bale commits, that would help provide clarity to the trio of studios considering co-financing the movie: While Noah is set up at the Fox-based mini-studio New Regency, its massive budget means that some other studio will need to come in and help with the heavy lifting. For the trio of studios circling the project, which includes Paramount, Summit, and Fox, knowing Bale is in the wings would help them get a forecast on what Noah might make in foreign territories before they commit to making such a pricey picture.

Firstly, I think Bale proved in The Fighter that he can look 600 years old. Secondly, studios are seriously nervous about producing a movie that’s certain to launch convoys of packed church buses for 40 days and 40 nights? Relax.

Hints from around the web tell us about Aronofsky’s intentions, after the cut.

Thanks to Brad Brevett at Rope of Silicon for digging up the quote archeology:

Aronofsky: “Noah was the first person to plant vineyards and drink wine and get drunk. It’s there in the Bible – it was one of the first things he did when he reached land. There was some real survivor’s guilt going on there. He’s a dark, complicated character.” (The Guardian)

“It’s a great script and it’s HUGE. And we’re starting to feel out talent. And then we’ll probably try and set it up… Look, It’s the end of the world and it’s the second most famous ship after the Titanic. So I’m not sure why any studio won’t want to make it… It’s a really cool project and I think it’s really timely because it’s about environmental apocalypse which is the biggest theme, for me, right now for what’s going on on this planet. So I think it’s got these big, big themes that connect with us. Noah was the first environmentalist. He’s a really interesting character. Hopefully they’ll let me make it.” (Slashfilm)