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What?! Darren Aronofsky is No Longer Set to Direct 'The Wolverine'

by Ethan Anderton
March 17, 2011
Source: Deadline

After hearing the official news that Darren Aronofsky was going to direct the comic book sequel The Wolverine starring Hugh Jackman, my excitement couldn't have been higher. And hearing the Black Swan director talk about his interest in the project was enough to make me forget that X-Men Origins: Wolverine even happened. However, it sounds like some personal issues will prevent the brilliant filmmaker from taking on the studio tentpole as Deadline reports Aronofsky has backed out of directing the film due to his divorce from actress Rachel Weisz, the custody of their son, and the long shooting schedule in Japan.

The good news is that there doesn't seem to be any bad blood between Aronofsky and the studio (which is great since he has a new two-year production deal with Fox), but the bad news is Aronofsky isn't directing the sequel. The director issued this statement:

"As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of ‘The Wolverine’ would keep me out of the country for almost a year. I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again."

The studio was equally disappointed but understanding of the issues at hand saying:

While we are of course disappointed that Darren can’t do ‘The Wolverine’, we also understand and respect his reasons. Having done both ‘The Wrestler’ and ‘Black Swan’ with Darren, we know he is an extraordinary talent and we look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making ‘The Wolverine’. We will regroup and move forward aggressively.”

Well, there's nothing else to say except that this just plain blows. Having an artistic and brilliant director like Aronofsky aboard a big comic book film like The Wolverine just had me drooling. Take this incident combined with his falling away from that RoboCop remake (which now has a different director), maybe this is a sign that Aronofsky should never do a big studio movie. Either way, Fox has to find a new director. David Slade (Twilight Eclipse, Hard Candy) was once rumored to direct the sequel, but now that he's taking on a Daredevil reboot, I doubt Fox will snag him for the job. So who do you think should direct The Wolverine now?

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Ron

This is terrible news! So sad. I hope they find someone worthy enough to take up the mantle.
Anonymous

Well Crap!
- Jamie
  
  But maybe he'll do Superman now!
xamel

NOOOOOOO! For some reason, I dont want another Wolverine if Aronofsky dont direct it.
- Have Hope
  
  Sucks, BIG TIME. Project is dead now.
- ScottyR37
  
  Agreed. Don't have any real interest in this thing anymore. Might as well just call it X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2
Have Hope

Sorry people, but any chance Wolverine had of being something special have now officially gone.
Chazzy

Yeah... I have no interest in this movie anymore.
DarkPassenger29

Pussy...
- Anonymous
  
  Totally. Such a pussy move to put family first when you're in a custody battle with your ex-wife, because being away for a year to shoot a movie certainly looks good when you're trying to show that you're committed to your child and suitable for custody. But, to be fair, who knows if that's even the real reason or if FOX was just trying to bully Aronofsky into a different direction that he wasn't willing to go, and this was a good excuse. It wouldn't surprise me.
  - ScottyR37
    
    I don't think anyone here is commenting that Aronofsky's decision is a poor choice personally, just that the project suffers from the departure of a visionary filmmaker.
Matt

Aronofsky was the only reason I was going to see this - the only thing that could overcome the incompetence of FOX. I'll pass on Daredevil, FF and anything X-men until Marvel gets them back.
Murtada_fadl

who cares who's directing Wolverine? The only reason to see it would've been Aronofsky. But now I'm excited he can move on to an original story that would be brilliant. That's the movie to anticipate!
Guest

I don't care.
FRANKIE NONECK

I DO NOT CARE!
Guest

I think FOX should get Doug Liman or Kazuaki Kiriya to do the movie.
Anonymous

Let me guess, Bret Ratner gonna direct it?
Nathan

Only option, Shamalayan.
Chris

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A3_kKB1i_PI/TEXH94lKPRI/AAAAAAAAAmM/E10grQUSLhc/s400/74049-wtf_is_this_shit.jpg
lego

Hang on a sec....they're doing a Daredevil reboot? ...fail
Jamie

COULD ARONOFSKY BE REPLACING SNYDER ON SUPERMAN?!?!?
- Anonymous
  
  why would he?
  - Have Hope
    
    I hope that was true. But let Snyder keep Superman. Don't care about that project
  - Bart
    
    Because Sucker Punch is reportedly a disaster. It's a conspiracy theory, but would you be at all surprised if FOX made that move?
    - WOW
      
      OMG they erased the speculation! It must be true!
  - McWilly
    
    What did he write....comment removed?
Bart

I'm pretty sure Aronofsky woke up and realized he'd be slumming it up in comic-book-movie-sequel-ville. These types of films are for directors looking to get to his level, not directors already at his level. The Wolverine franchise is tainted at this point, all used up for a while.
Day

I'm surprised no one involved is concerned with the Japan Nuclear situation? Can you put together a quality production in Japan right now, never mind keep the crew safe?
Mini

Hugh can stop with the workouts now. Given current events, this movie won't be made in Japan anytime soon. Plus Aronofsky was the only factor that made it have ANY potential at all.
WOW

If the studio forced this site to erase the speculation that Aronofsky is replacing Snyder, then IT MUST BE TRUE! WOW WOW WOW
- Anonymous
  
  you're morphing into a troll, be careful.
  - Stay Tuned
    
    Why else would they force the speculation to be erased? The only reason they do that sort of thing is when the truth gets out.
    - Anonymous
      
      possible reasons: Its an ignorant suggestion. Why would the studio OK Snyder/Nolan for Supes just to rip the rug out from underneath Snyder? Aronofsky left Wolverine, that does not mean he's gonna automatically get Superman. If I'm wrong I'll admit my mistake, but odds are I'm not.
    - Jamie
      
      They'd never erase the speculation unless it was true. It's just another random post if it was false. Nobody would care. But if it is TRUE? Better take it down fast! Wow. This is amazing. Aronofsky was most people's first choice. So exciting.
  - Awtan90
    
    How's that at all related to trolling?
    - Anonymous
      
      Looks like it to me, opinion...not fact, mind you.
Ryderup

I bet Singer will take over!
Ryderup

Or wait for it... Ratner!
Voice of Reason

YAYAAAAAYYYYYYY!!! Aronofsky was too good for Wolverine anyways. This makes me happy, I can go back to boycotting Wolverine movies again. Win-Win!!!!
Lamar

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Phontsolo

The Wolverine just went from can't wait to who gives a shit...
Smendoza

Now... what if Tarantino picked up the project?
Jericho

oh well...DEADPOOL!!!!!!!!!!
http://twitter.com/DwainIBe DwainIBe

Damnit. This sucks. But, I get the family thing. Would've been sweet, though.
Darren

David Slade is going to get it...great (sarcasm)
Bubbab

HAHA of course Aronofsky wasn't going to do it. Guaranteed Fox let him do Black Swan if he agreed to do Wolverine. Then after Black Swan Oscar buzz died down he would mysteriously back out of the project No surprise here. Fox isn't mad because he probably set the budget for the film super high for really artsy B.S. that he knew the producers would hate. GAH go Aronofsky!
Anonymous

got all our hopes up, got us thinking we were actually going to get thew wolverine we all want... WHAT A COCK TEASE
happy camper

Aronofsky is super smart. i knew this would happen.
Luke Roinson

I THINK NOLAN would be perfect to direct. he is very good at getting depth fom his actors/characters.
Anonymous

welp there goes this movie.
Last Son

Actually if you jump over to comicbookmovie website you'll find out that there was some actual bad blood between Darren and the studio. Apparently after Darren got nominated for Black Swan he wanted more control over The Wolverine and the studio only offered him more money which he did not want and so they told him to walk if he did not like the offer. God I hate Fox for destroying Marvel properties.
Fellintoorbit

Not in the least bit disappointed by this news. Aronofsky would be working below himself, frankly, doing an X-Men entry. All his other projects have been remarkable left-field character studies, and I just don't see why he would spend a couple of years developing an entry for this fairly mediocre franchise such as this, anymore than he would direct say, a Bond movie. There are plenty of other directors more suited to this, who will still keep the fanboys happy. Darren deserves a bigger challenge.
- Croniccris
  
  he wanted to do it cuz for the first time he wanted to make a movie other people wanted to see not just him...
David Banner

Ah, sad news, but family comes first. Btw, I seem to have misplaced JJ Abrams phone no#, andyone have it?
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/NTNQSYBPGXQR3Z42MPHFAZDEIA James

Get Fincher to do it
Wallywest_aka_flash

does no1 think that the earthquake had some part in this? can understand his point about his family. Also agree that fox is possibly the worst studio in existence, the sooner they lose all their marvel rights the better!
zdude

That's two films Aronofsky has dropped out of that I would see him direct (first Robocop, and now this)...
http://twitter.com/darktaxidermist David Perretta

Good for him. When Arthouse directors try the big budget thing it's usually a huge flop (think David Lynch doing 'Dune' or Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette').
Stinkyballz

Leave it to a broad to ruin everything
Croniccris

ya right he didn't leave cuz of a custody battle he left because fox wouldnt give him total control of the film and darren ALWAYS has total control thats why his films are so great
Quazzimotto

He left because he didn't want to make this. Pure and simple. Whatever his intentions for leaving, this is a brilliant move on his part. Marvel is a crapshoot in the comics into movies business. Only a few of the many films Marvel has made are worth mentioning, and none of those compare to anything that DC has done in the past decade. No surprise that Arny left.
- McWilly
  
  DC Modern movies- The Dark Knight series....Awesome but Nolen could direct a catwoman movie and win Superman Returns - suckfest Watchmen 50/50split...but I loved it Jonah Hex - suckfest Green Lantern Looks horrible New Superman- unknown Marvel Modern Movies- 1998 Blade New Line Cinema / Marvel Studios 2000 X-Men Loved it 2002 Blade II it was alright Spider-Man - Loved it Daredevil - Meh X2 -loved it Hulk suckfest The Punisher - Yuck Spider-Man 2 - yuck Blade: Trinity- meh Elektra - suckfest Fantastic Four - Suckfest X-Men: The Last Stand Suck Fest Ghost Rider - suckfest Fantastic Four SuckFest Iron Man loved it The Incredible Hulk LikedIt! Punisher:SuckFest Wolverine- suckfest Iron Man 2 Iwas entertained but meh Thor awaiting not sure yet X-Men: First class - looks good The First Avenger Marvel- looks good Ghost Rider reboot-awaiting, meh The Amazing Spider- awaiting exited The Avengers-exited Iron Man 3-Awaiting My vote is Marvel
  - McWilly
    
    Meant to say Spiderman 2 likedit left out spiderman3 - suckfest. But DC just got lucky with Nolan! Marvel is pumping out a lot of "shit" but as a fanboy even if its a suckfest i was usually entertained from the DVD and there most def.trying to perfect the art and have had alot of hits. DC hasnt got much except the Nolan factor in the Dark Knight series
http://twitter.com/A5J4DX A5J4DX

nooo! but i respect his wishes
Gh

It is good news! Maybe they will end up not doing it after all!
Terry Craig

Wow, I think I'm the only one that's actually relieved. Aronofsky is a brillant director and he would definitely make a better Wolverine than most other directors today would, but even he couldn't have made THAT great a film out of this superhero flick. Seriously, Wolverine is no Batman, and it wouldn't have helped Aronofsky's career. Also I don't like Hugh Jackman.