Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ hits Korean theaters

“The Wrestler” and “Black Swan” filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s controversial biblical blockbuster “Noah” is arriving in Korean theaters on March 30.

Based on the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, the film stars Academy Award-winning Australian actor Russell Crowe as Noah ― the man chosen by God for a great mission before the coming of an apocalyptic flood.

Actress Jennifer Connelly (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Blood Diamond”) is starring as Noah’s wife, while Emma Watson (“Harry Potter,” “The Bling Ring”) is playing Ila, Noah’s adopted daughter. Other members of the cast include Anthony Hopkins, Logan Lerman and Douglas Booth.

Even before its upcoming release in the U.S., which is scheduled for March 28, the film has been facing a series of controversies regarding its biblical subject matter. Aronofsky is a secular, Harvard-educated Jewish filmmaker who grew up in New York City. On Thursday, Al-Azhar, a major Egyptian Islamic cultural institution, called for a ban on Aronofsky’s film, saying it offends their religious law.

In the U.S., the film’s distributor Paramount last month announced that the film’s marketing materials will have a disclaimer that “Noah” is “inspired by the story of Noah,” and is not a film adaptation of the Bible story.

The announcement came after the studio received concerns from the country’s Christian communities that the upcoming film’s script is not a “biblically faithful” retelling of one of the most famous Christian tales.

Paramount also reportedly had lengthy debates with Aronofsky over the final cut of the film, in an apparent attempt to appease the country’s religious audiences and their concerns. The studio eventually decided to screen Aronofsky’s initial version.

Aronofsky is a well-received filmmaker in Korea, especially after his 2010 ballet-themed thriller “Black Swan” became a hit here in 2011, drawing 1,623,310 viewers.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)