Skip to main content

Aronofsky confirmed to direct Wolverine 2

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In what may be one of the oddest pairings in recent Hollywood history, Deadline is reporting that Darren Aronofsky, director of Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, is leaving the world of dark dramas in favor of the superhero genre to direct the tentatively titled Wolverine 2. It is an abrupt departure for the director, to say the least, who will soon be reunited with Hugh Jackman who starred in Aronofsky’s The Fountain.

Aronofsky was also said to be actively pursuing the director’s chair for the Superman reboot which ended up going to Zack Snyder.  Reports suggest Snyder won the job because he could rewrite the script and get Superman to the screen faster than Aronofsky.

Aronofsky’s films have hardly been tailored for the popcorn crowd and summer movie set. For example, his next film which is due out in December, The Black Swan, is a psychological drama set in the world of ballet. Once he has finished the promotion for that movie– which features intense themes of betrayal, friendship, rivalry and the dark existential nature of the soul– Aronofsky will then helm the sequel for the movie that featured a 500-pound guy that was really sensitive about his weight. It is something of a departure for the director.

Wolverine 2 might seem like an odd leap until you look at the rise of someone like Christopher Nolan, who enjoyed moderate box office success with high critical praise, then became one of the most influential directors in Hollywood following the success of his Batman films. If The Dark Knight had not gone on to huge critical and commercial success, the studio most likely would not have been as willing to greenlight the expensive and untested Inception. It seems that Aronofsky might be following a similar track.

Aronofsky is not a stranger to the big budget movies though. In 2008 he was attached to direct a reboot of the RoboCop franchise, but he stalled the project by refusing to film in 3D despite the studio’s wishes. The subsequent collapse of MGM ended the project.

Wolverine 2 is set to begin shooting in March in New York, then will head to Japan.  Most of the plot is unknown, but it is said to be based on the classic Frank Miller and Chris Claremont limited series, Wolverine.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
10 best R-rated movies streaming right now
A woman and her child stands next to a dead body in Anatomy of a Fall.

R-rated movies are typically expected by audiences to push the boundaries of what can be depicted on the big screen. Whether it's gory horror movies or steamy erotic thrillers, these movies were designed specifically to get an "R" rating and be shown primarily to adults.

From modern masterpieces like Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer to classics like Alien, some of the best R-rated movies ever made are available to stream on different platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. With bold narratives and unfiltered realism, these are great picks for an enjoyable movie night among adult friends.

Read more
Stop! Watch these Netflix movies before March 2024 ends
Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

One of the blessings of streaming services like Netflix is that, in addition to their libraries of original titles, they also have titles that come and go on a regular basis. While the introduction of new titles is always nice, the downside is that titles usually leave the service when new ones join.

As March turns into April, we're going to lose some genuinely great movies on Netflix. While you still have time, though, you should check these three very different movies out.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

Read more
March Madness live stream 2024: Watch every Sweet 16 game
Logo for the Sweet 16 in March Madness.

With the always-thrilling first weekend of the NCAA tournament in the books, we now move from quantity to quality. As we get ready for the Sweet 16, each matchup from here on out will be of the must-watch variety. Just four wins sit between the remaining schools and a national championship, so you know there are plenty of huge moments on the way.

There are 12 games this weekend—eight Sweet 16 matchups on Thursday and Friday, and then four Elite 8 contests on Saturday and Sunday. They'll all be televised on either CBS, TBS, TNT or truTV. Fortunately, if you don't have cable, there are a bevy of options for watching the Big Dance for free or cheap.
Is There a Free March Madness Live Stream?

Read more