So that’s why he did it. While we’re slowly getting more and more used to (and excited by) the idea of Darren Aronofsky helming the comic book movie “The Wolverine,” we didn’t really see what he was getting out of it other than an opportunity to play in the studio tentpole sandbox for the first time in his career. But now, things a bit a more sense.
Protazoa Pictures, Aronofsky’s production shingle, has inked a two-year deal to develop and produce films for both Twentieth Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures. That’s a pretty nice little deal and it gives Aronofsky a bit of stability and a place to call home for the next little while. Certainly, Fox Searchlight have done very well by the director. His latest, “Black Swan,” is earning just as much (if not more) awards seasons buzz than 2008’s “The Wrestler,” which was also delivered by the indie arm. And clearly, Fox has faith in Aronofsky entrusting him to the very expensive and scrutinized “The Wolverine,” hoping he can bring the franchise back from the brink of collapse after the very less-than-stellar “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
That film, which was tentatively slated to start in February, has now been given an official April 2011 production start. It will not follow the previous film — because god know, no one wants to follow that dreck — and will instead be a standalone picture. Aronofsky regular Matthew Libatique will tackle the cinematography duties once again, and we really, really hope Clint Mansell gets the call to score the film. No release date has been set, but it’s certainly a 2012 release and probably going to be one of the artiest comic book movies ever made.
