While there were continuing reports that Darren Aronofsky was close to a deal to direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2, none of them said he outright had the gig so I didn’t want to jump the gun only to have to retract the news. As it turns out, speaking with Vulture, Wolverine star Hugh Jackman confirms he’s reuniting with his The Fountain helmer and is already bulking up for the role. “I’m starting; I’m having my six meals a day,” he told Vulture.
Aronofsky is set to direct a script from Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) with a March start being eyed according to Deadline. Apparently the sound stage portions of the film will be shot in New York so Aronofsky and Jackman don’t have to inconvenience their families and the March start will give Aronofsky time to promote Black Swan and be available for the inevitable awards season obligations. Once things are finished the filming will move to Japan where the bulk of the story is said to take place. Here is the synopsis I currently have listed on the site:
Will take its cue from the early 1980s Chris Claremont/Frank Miller miniseries, which is set in Japan and features Wolverine dealing with ninjas as he struggles whether to follow his animal killer instincts or the life under a samurai’s code of honor and respect. The setting shouldn’t be much of a surprise to fans who caught one of the two alternate post-credit endings which featured Wolverine in Japan and speaking Japanese with his bartender who asks him if he’s drinking to forget. He replies in English that he’s, “Drinking to remember.”
Jackman continued to comment on the film telling Vulture, “It’s going to be the best one, I hope… This is Wolverine. This is not Popeye. He’s kind of dark… [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure.”
This, of course, puts Aronofsky’s The Tiger and Jackie on the back-burner. I can only assume he saw it as a chance to reteam with Jackman and put a little money in his bank account before returning to the smaller, more obscure films that have made him the director so many love.
I would expect Wolverine 2 will be primed to hit theaters Summer 2012.
