“Noah” Director Darren Aronofsky And Paramount Have A Dispute Over ‘Worrisome Screenings;’ Studio Wants Revisions

A creative dispute is in the offing on the set of "Noah," the biblical epic from Paramount.

The director of "Noah" Darren Aronofsky is known as a genius and a true artist. He will not make compromises for commercial purposes. However, Paramount Pictures has requested revisions after what they describe as 'worrisome screenings' based on the initial reactions of the test audience.

The incidents were first publicized by The Hollywood Reporter. In their report: Aronofsky and Paramount have been at odds over the version of Noah that is set for release March 28. It's not clear whether Aronofsky -- whose most recent film, 2010's Black Swan, grossed $329 million worldwide and won an Oscar for star Natalie Portman -- has held on to his right to final cut. Aronofsky and his reps did not respond to requests for comment, but Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore says the film, which stars Russell Crowe as the seafarer, is going through a "normal preview process" and the result will be "one version of the movie that Darren is overseeing."

Test screenings were conducted for a demographic that Paramount believes would be interested in the material:  in New York (for a largely Jewish audience), in Arizona (Christians) and in Orange County, Calif. (general public). All are said to have generated 'troubling reactions.' But sources say Aronofsky has been resistant to Paramount's suggested changes. He totally believes and upholds artists' independence and creative license.  "Darren is not made for studio films. He's very dismissive. He doesn't care about [Paramount's] opinion."

The apparent issue is the extensive CGI used in the film. Aside from the flood (for obvious reasons) the filmmaker has opted not to use any live animals in the film. Aronofsky's rendering also has a hint of fantasy, as there are different beings (not just run of the mill animals) and even angel-like beings called "Watchers." However, this is pure speculation and Moore has not specified any details on the issue.