Filming is expected to begin in August, so it only makes sense that casting on Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah begin heating up as we can now add Emma Watson to the cast playing the young female lead who develops a close relationship with Noah’s son, Shem (Douglas Booth).
Word is Watson got the role only after Dakota Fanning was unable to fit the film in her schedule, already having committed to star in Naomi Foner’s Very Good Girls. While filming on Noah begins in August, actors are being asked to report by July 20 for rehearsals and makeup tests. Fanning couldn’t make it work and Watson got the role as she continues to add projects to her upcoming slate, which also includes Sofia Coppola’s recently wrapped The Bling Ring.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Connelly was so far been the only name mentioned when it comes to who will play Noah’s wife Naameth. With Russell Crowe playing the title role it would be a reunion of sorts for the two A Beautiful Mind performers and for Aronofsky a chance to direct one of his stars of Requiem for a Dream once again. However, Variety now reports Julianne Moore is also in contention for that role should shooting on Kimberly Peirce‘s remake of Carrie finish in time.
Additionally, Liev Schreiber has emerged as a candidate for the antagonist role in the film after Liam Neeson was originally rumored, but now confirmed to be a no go.
Noah is set to hit theaters on March 28, 2014 and is described as a close adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. In a world ravaged by human sin, Noah (Crowe) is given a divine mission: to build an Ark to save creation from the coming flood. The screenplay was written by Aronofsky and Ari Handel and revised by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter John Logan (Gladiator, Hugo).
