News is rolling in from the most famous ark in history as Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah gains momentum. New pictures are starting to wash ashore and we’ve got some pretty talented actors on board as well. Ok, no more puns, I promise.
Be warned, this retelling won’t be a happy parable. Mostly the tale of Noah’s Ark brings images of happy animals marching two-by-two into a wooden ship. Aronofsky’s version has war-like overtones and some decidedly unsavory characters.
The ‘Noah’ Cast
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe will play the titular character, and the picture to the left is our first image of Crowe in costume.
He looks a little tougher than I usually picture the biblical ‘Noah.’ I always thought of him as a simple, ordinary sort of man given an extraordinary task. I actually always pictured him being scrawny, but that’s probably just me. Crowe appears to be going for the rough-and-rugged look — something the Gladiator star is no stranger to. At any rate, Aronofsky’s biblical world needs more warriors. It’s not a nice, harmlessly sinful, environment, but one full of savages and barbarism.
Douglas Booth and Logan Lerman
Booth joined the cast as Noah’s son Shem and Lerman will play the other son, Ham. Shem was the “good” son and some biblical scholars consider him a prophet. Ham was the black sheep of the family and is said to have betrayed his father in several ways. In one of the more interesting interpretations, it’s even thought that Ham slept with his father’s wife! I predict Lerman will play Ham with a “difficult middle child” vibe, but no word if Aronofsky will sculpt him as a major antagonist against his father.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson will play Shem’s love interest, Ila. Details on her character are sketchy, but she’s been rescued by Noah who takes her in as his adopted daughter. No one knows for sure how much screen time Watson’s character will receive, but if Aronofsky’s getting into secondary characters’ love lives, we can conclude that the movie will focus on more than Noah’s personal journey.
Other than a minor role as wardrobe assistant Lucy in My Week with Marilyn, Watson’s only been cast as a teenager or very young adult. It will be interesting, and a little weird, seeing her in a more grown-up film.
Jennifer Connelly
Connelly plays Noah’s wife, Naameh. This won’t be the first time she’s played opposite Crowe — she was also his wife in A Beautiful Mind. Her character will be the voice of reason and support behind Crowe’s. Originally it was a toss up between Connelly and Julianne Moore for who would play Naameh, but it looks like Connelley won.
I have mixed feelings — as far as appearance goes, I feel like Moore has a lot of dignity and just looks like she should be a prophet’s wife, whereas Connelly gives off a more carefree vibe. Though she did have a pretty intense role in another Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream (she was Marion Silver, the lead’s girlfriend). It’s obvious she can handle a complex role.
Anthony Hopkins
What better role for Anthony Hopkins than Methusela? Infinitely wise and very old (960!) Methusela works with Noah to persuade people on earth to return to godliness. He saw the Ark’s completion but died before the actual flood.
Hopkins is one of those actors known for completely immersing himself in any role. I can’t imagine a more dedicated actor who could be chosen for this character. Kudos on the casting choice, Aronofsky!
Ray Winstone
Winstone will play the villain, Tubal-Cain. In the Bible, Tubal-Cain follows in his murderous ancestor and namesake’s footsteps by creating weapons of war. Pretty much the entire village is against Noah, but Winstone’s character takes it to greater heights.
Winstone has experience both as a villain and as a character in previous historical/mythological films. He’s played a gangster in both Ripley’s Game and A Talented Mr. Ripley and the calculating home guard boss Teague in Cold Mountain. He was also a pretty decent Beowulf in Beowulf.
Wingless Angels and Giants?
Seeing as this is directed by the helmer of psychological wonders like Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream, it’s no surprise that Noah will include new and unusual elements. Believe it or not there were giants in the Bible, and not all biblical angels were the delicate winged and haloed beings we place on our Christmas trees. Aronofsky’s wingless angels are called ‘Watchers’ and stand 11 feet tall. What they lack in wings, they make up for by having six arms.
As for the giants, meet Og, the last of his race. He’s known mostly in Jewish folklore. He rode on the ark with the pairs of animals — either in a special giant-sized room, or on the roof.
We can welcome aboard Kevin Durand as an angel/watcher. The only giant is Og, but there will be a handful of watchers (don’t worry, all of these creatures are on Noah’s side).
For more information on Noah check back with RMN. Do you think Aronofsky made the right decisions in casting the biblical epic? Let us know in the comments below.
