Update: Variety also re-confirms that Jennifer Connelly is in negotiations for Noah.

As of late, the casting announcements pertaining to Darren Aronofsky‘s mega-scale Noah have really been amping up — and that’s not much of a surprise, considering the film is scheduled to begin shooting this summer in New York and Iceland. We’ve known for a while now that Russell Crowe, who could stir up Oscar hype later this year in Tom Hooper‘s Les Misérables (watch the first trailer here), is officially on board to play the titular hero in Aronofsky‘s ambitious passion project. Since then, however, even more key names have been added into the fray.

A couple of weeks ago, we thought Jennifer Connelly (as Naameh, Noah’s wife) and Saoirse Ronan were sure-things on the casting front. The picture seems to have clouded in the days since, however, as Emma Watson has booked a role that was likely quite comparable, if not identical, to the one Ronan was circling prior. The same report suggested that Connelly‘s involvement was also somewhat on the fence, with Julianne Moore‘s name being thrown into the realm of possibilities for the role of Noah’s wife.

Suffice it to say that, outside of Crowe‘s anchor, the gathering of actors for this PG-13 epic has been a rocky process. Thankfully, then, this recent Deadline report is short and sweet: the great Ray Winstone has been offered the role of Noah’s nemesis. Winstone is, of course, coming off a small supporting turn as one of the dwarves in Snow White and the Huntsman, though this part, should he accept, would in all likelihood be a return to full-body-size form for the famed English actor.

We’ll be sure to keep covering Noah as more names are added and dismissed. For now, though, it’d probably be best to remain convinced of only a few choice details, like the March 28th, 2014 release date.

Do you think Winstone would make a good nemesis for Crowe?