It's show your cards or fold time for
Darren Aronofsky. He has met with 20th Century Fox about potentially
helming 'Wolverine 2' next year, which so far has not cost him a penny. He has probably enjoyed a nice meal on Fox's dime, had a chance to chat and fantasise about a tentpole project, make non-committal statements about what he would do, etc. Though that can only go on for so long and Fox are going to make Aronofsky show his cards this week.
Vulture say they have offered the 'Black Swan' and 'The Wrestler' director the chance to make his first mass-audience blockbuster with the adamantium clawed hero, and Aronofsky must now decide whether he was just flirting with Fox all along, or whether he is actually serious about stepping into the comic book genre. Fox's reps and Aronofsky's people are looking over a deal right now.
Fox have quickly made the offer to Aronosfky because they think the timing is now right to secure him. The director had met with
Chris Nolan over
'Superman: The Man of Steel', and by all accounts really pushed for the gig. It's said that Chris Nolan wanted him... but
David Goyer and
Jonathan Nolan's screenplay is according to Vulture - "rushed... still a bit of a mess", which meant hiring Aronofsky wasn't an option. Known to be a perfectionist, the auteur wouldn't have been allowed the months he wanted to shape the project into the best it could be because WB have to get a 'Superman' movie in production by 2011, otherwise feel the wrath of lawyers. They had to hire someone, Aronofsky wouldn't be able to work under those circumstances, and
Ben Affleck (the second choice) turned WB down for the same reasons. Which would leave eventual director
Zack Snyder the third choice, if we believe that nobody else was offered the gig. Snyder, presumably, is less picky about the state of the script and was willing to sacrifice perfection to get the job done. Clearly Aronofsky is feeling a little bitter right now and this is Fox's window of opportunity to nab him. Put it this way - If a hot chick has just turned you down, you are more likely to jump straight into bed with a less enticing prospect who is begging for it. Add that to Aronofky's close relationship with star
Hugh Jackman from 'The Fountain' and it's becoming more likely that he might indeed take this job. Interestingly, Vulture also say Aronofsky has been offered
'Tales From The Gangster Squad', WB's fast-tracked adaptation of
Paul Lieberman's series of articles in the L.A. Times concerning the 'off-the-record' and questionable L.A.P.D. of the 1940's and their influence from the East Coast Mafia, and particularly their chase against gangster Mickey Cohen, a violent muscle man for Chicago's notorious criminal Al Capone. The project that last week we heard had also been offered to
Ben Affleck to helm, who has passed on it.