The Wolverine loses director Darren Aronofsky
"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."
Here's the statement that 20th Century Fox issued after the director's decision to leave the project.
"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."
The Wolverine was supposed to start production in April. Now those plans will likely have to be pushed.
The Wolverine comes to theaters July 26th, 2013 and stars Hugh Jackman. The film is directed by James Mangold.
Comments (89)
To leave a comment, please sign in or use
Facebook or Twitter
Remy72883
bummer come on get this film made come on lol
1 year agoby @remy72883Flag
Josh
If they're still using McQuarrie's script then it shouldn't make too much of a difference who they get to direct. Although, that might be an oversimplification given that FOX is putting their hands in the cookie jar. David Benioff (25th Hour) and Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) are very talented in their own right, but somehow Origins turned out to be a bit of a mess.
Still, I say work from McQuarrie's existing script, and get someone young and talented like David Michod to direct.
1 year agoby @shuabertFlag
Mutant
Just give Aronofsky Daredevil and David The Wolverine.
1 year agoby @zenderFlag
Nautical
Please stop with the xmen movies
1 year agoby @nautical05Flag
ejk1
@bane5000 I'd agree, but all indications are that David Slade is getting the DD reboot. Personally, I don't feel all that good about that in and of itself.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Bane5000
@ejk1...I say give Aronofsky Daredevil reboot instead if he wants to stay local, imagine what he could pull off with DD
1 year agoby @bane5000Flag
K-Man
@shuabert - About what you said earlier, in all honesty, the weight that Hugh has put on is just an after thought for the studios. They couldn't care less how much he's been bulking up or for how long. I mean, if you think about it, just look at what happened with Ryan Gosling, who put on a whopping 60 pounds for the Lovely Bones, only to get fired for "creative differences" just a couple weeks before shooting began. Things like that don't even come into their mind when the studio is thinking financially.....and, personally, I think financially the smartest move would be to do whatever it takes to keep Aronofsky on the film......even if that means shelving it for a few months.
It would be a better solution than hiring someone like Gavin Hood, who will bring around fans and first time viewers ONLY, who would end up going home and bashing the hell out of it.....and to lose the chance of second and third time viewers, which WILL happen with Aronosky's adaptation.
But then again, studios are the most impatient sons of bitches in the world, everything has to happen right now or never, so the chances of this thing getting shelved to wait for Aronofsky are below slim.....which is unfortunate.
1 year agoby @k-manFlag
Dan
@bawnian-dexeus Lmao, good one :P
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@dan1 The people at FOX
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Dan
Who are the 4 people who gave this a thumbs up??
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Jay.A.Ottley
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO but i like @ejk1 point
1 year agoby @jayaottleyFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
That would be good @ejk1
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Dan
@ejk1 This is very true, good point. Maybe this will be for the better.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
ejk1
@dan1 I realize this upset many, and likewise I would have been interested to see how Aronofsky was going to film this. I was trying to look on the bright side (if there is one). Perhaps Aronofsky gets the FF reboot, since the story can stay localized in NYC. If he would still like to do a comic book movie. Of course, if Nolan stays true to his word and leaves Batman after TDKR, then the way is paved for Aronofsky to take over without any loyalty issues with Marvel.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Summit10
not cool at all!!! Always a fan Darren more movies to come! Wolverine would be great with you helming it!
1 year agoby @summit10Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
I think the combination of @k-man's theory about Japan being devastated and in no shape to host such a huge project with lethal threats encroaching such a large territory, combined with @bane5000's revealed article addressing Fox's controlling approach to the series were what pushed Aronofsky out of the ring. Both seem practical, understandable, and worthy reasons for leaving. Still, this is a f*cking tragedy.
1 year agoby @narratorFlag
Dan
@ejk1 I only partially agree with you, sir. Yes, I'm waiting for that reboot as well, so we can see a proper X-Men story with an adult Rogue who actually says "Suge" lol, and not have the entire focus on Logan all 3 movies (4, if you count his Origins). BUT, I did want to see Aronofsky's "one off". He would have had a unique perspective on the character, and I was looking forward to what I knew was going to be a completely different adventure, a much better one, then the first Wolverine outing. It seemed like the stars were aligning for the next truly kick ass X-Men flick after X2, and then this. Ah well. As I said, moving on now.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
ejk1
Okay, now I need to vent on something, and this is as good a place as any. IGN has a story on Daredevil in which director David Slade's pitch is described. In short, it sounds somewhat like "Born Again," only according to the source, it's "bright and boisterous." That pisses me off, because DD should be dark. A bright spot though is that it is somewhat compared to Batman Begins. That could be a saving grace. Now here is my problem. Moviehole.com is reporting that Robert Pattinson may be up for the role of Matt Murdock. If they let this pasty, anorexic, vampire bitch-boy anywhere near The Man Without Fear, I will NEVER, EVER see this film. Just the thought of this occurrence makes me sick. Seriously, this kid does not embody Murdock in any way. I don't want to hear from Twilight apologists, Pattinson fans, etc. He's not right for this role. At all. Period. F*ck that.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Pjwolsker
damnit when will the studios realize they are NOT always right????????
1 year agoby @pjwolskerFlag
ejk1
@bane5000 Makes sense.
This is obviously upsetting news for many. For me,though, not so much. The way I see it, if First Class is not up to par (a 50/50 toss-up as of now), then this fallout with Aronofsky paves the way for an X-Men reboot a few years from now. There will be no need to continuation of this particular series. As for Jackman, give him something else to burn that 6000 calorie a day diet off. If First Class is critically and commercially successful, then yes, find a great director to helm this project, but if not, go back to the drawing board. Literally.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Dan
@bane5000 it wouldn't surprise me, Fox is filled with a bunch of control freaks, and they make the worst decisions of any studio.
Well, onwards to Aronofsky's next project then. I agree, he should have total control, or f*ck off.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
@bane5000 that actually makes more sense. Who knows really. Studios need to get their broom sticks out of their a$$. I would have given Aronofsky total control of the film.
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
Bane5000
I say if Aronofsky wants to stay closer to the states, Fox should give him Daredevil...
1 year agoby @bane5000Flag
Bane5000
it turns out theres more to the story, according to Cinema Blend, heres what they had to say about Aronofsky leaving...
One of their long time scoopers(who happened to fill them in about Jon Favreau leaving Iron Man 3 months before ti was announced) has informed them that Aronofsky pulled out due to Fox's unwillingness to allow him to have full control over the film, much like Warner Brothers has done with Christopher Nolan and the Batman films.
"...but he's still Aronofsky, and his style requires total control over whatever he's working in. Movies like Black Swan don't happen in an environment of studio interference and Darren no doubt knew of all the problems the previous X-Men movies have had. So he attached himself to the project, but didn't sign on the dotted line until Fox agreed to give him the control he wanted. "
The article goes on to say that once Aronofsky earned his Oscar nomination, he asked for total control of the film, which he wanted all along. Fox offered him more money instead, but Aronofsky turned that down and the studio basically told him to walk...so he did.
This obviously makes more sense to me and is more along the lines of Fox's M.O., not turning anything over fully to the director and keeping their "under-the-thumb" mentality. Obviously,they are going off what their scooper has told them and we may or may not ever really know what happened.
What do you think? Is there any premise or footing to this idea?
1 year agoby @bane5000Flag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
it better have a dark feeling to it too whom ever the get for a director. better be a damn good director as well
1 year agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
skeptico
Ok, i don't believe in bad mojo or luck or curses, or any of that sh#t, but an earthquake + radiation danger minus quality Movie director = ...... well something not too great. I just hope they stick to the McQuarrie script. Maybe a producer will grow a brain and get Chris McQuarrie to be a last minute replacement.
1 year agoby @skepticoFlag
CUPID
@steve-poots Hahaha movieweb has not change that as yet how stupid LMAO.
1 year agoby @cupidFlag
Dan
............................................________
....................................,.-'"...................``~.,
.............................,.-"..................................."-.,
.........................,/...............................................":,
.....................,?......................................................\,
.................../...........................................................,}
................./......................................................,:`^`..}
.............../...................................................,:"........./
..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../
............./__.(....."~-,_..............................,:`........../
.........../(_...."~,_........"~,_....................,:`........_/
..........{.._$;_......"=,_......."-,_.......,.-~-,},.~";/....}
...........((.....*~_......."=-._......";,,./`..../"............../
...,,,___.\`~,......"~.,....................`.....}............../
............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-"
............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\
.............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__
,,_..........}.>-._\...................................|..............`=~-,
.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\
...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\
................................`:,,...........................`\..............__
.....................................`=-,...................,%`>--==``
........................................_\..........._,-%.......`\
...................................,
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Bane5000
there goes my hope for this movie
1 year agoby @bane5000Flag
Masta_Chiefed
Truly the most depressing movie news in a while... Damn you Rachel Weisz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 year agoby @masta-chiefedFlag