‘The Wolverine’ loses director Darren Aronofsky as Japan filming delayed
While the 2011 summer season will deliver some big comic book films, three from Marvel, one that seems on shaky ground now is the Hugh Jackman “The Wolverine” film.
Director Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) will no longer be helming the Wolverine sequel for Twentieth Century Fox.
In a statement Aronofsky said:
“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.”
(The film was reportedly going to be set in Japan.)
“I am sad that I won’t be able to see the project through,” continued Aronofsky, “as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again.”
Twentieth Century Fox echoed Aronofsky’s regret:
“While we are of course disappointed that Darren can’t do “The Wolverine”, we also understand and respect his reasons … Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making The Wolverine. We will regroup and move forward aggressively.”
EW reports that FOX is in no rush to find another director: “I think we’re going to let it air out a bit before we approach another director,” said a source close to the production. “The one good thing, after losing Darren and what’s going on in Japan (where the film will be shot), is that we have a great script and the star (Hugh Jackman) attached and ready to go.”
Superherohype.com has a contradictory report: “Not true, says our solid source, who tells us that if the studio found a new director tomorrow, they could still start filming in July as was planned.
In the official statement on Aronofsky’s departure, the studio said that “Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making ‘The Wolverine.’ We will regroup and move forward aggressively.'”
photo 20th Century Fox
