Darren Aronofsky appears to have won his battle with Paramount over the version of Noah to be released to cinemagoers, with the studio agreeing to issue Aronofsky’s cut.
The studio had become worried by the potential backlash from religious viewers watching Aronofsky’s distinctly artistic take on the original Bible story, eventually testing different versions of the film to gauge public response.
“I was upset – of course,” says Aronofsky. “No one’s ever done that to me… I imagine if I made comedies and horror films, it would be helpful. In dramas, it’s very, very hard to do. I’ve never been open to it.
“I had no problem completely honouring and respecting everything in the Bible and accepting it as truth,” continues the director, before explaining that he also wanted to engage non-believers with “this fantastical world a la Middle-earth that they wouldn’t expect from their grandmother’s Bible school.”
Fortunately, the studio appears to have backed their maverick director, with Aronofsky’s two hour and twelve minute cut getting the nod for release.
You can make your own mind up on Aronofsky's film when it opens in the UK on 4 April 2014.
For more on the film, check out issue 217 of Total Film magazine , which is available from newsstands (both real-world and digital) from 14 February 2014.
