Russell Crowe goes sailing in ‘Noah’

Los Angeles - Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe has been signed on to play the title role in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Noah,’ due out in 2014.

The movie adaptation of the Biblical story will be directed by Darren Aronofsky, who was nominated for an Oscar for Black Swan. “I rejoice that Russell Crowe will be by my side on this adventure,” says Aronofsky. “It’s his immense talent that helps me to sleep at night. I look forward to being wowed by him every day.’ Noah is the story of a man given a divine mission to build an ark and save the world from a flood that will cleanse a world ravaged by sin. The screenplay was written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel and revised by John Logan, who won an Academy Award in 2012 for Hugo and was nominated in 2001 for Gladiator. Crowe is no stranger to playing legendary figures, including Robin Hood in Ridley Scott’s 2010 film of the same name. He is also playing Inspector Javert in the film version of the musical Les Miserables, which will be in theatres in December 2012. Crowe will follow that up on movie screens appearing as Superman’s Kryptonian father, Jor-El, in Man of Steel in June 2013. Noah is scheduled to start filming in New York and Iceland in July. Paramount Pictures has set a release date for March 2014.