First there was Christian Bale. Then there was Michael Fassbender. Next on the pecking order: Russell Crowe.

As Deadline reports, Darren Aronofsky wants the Australian thespian to lead Noah, his take on the well-known Biblical tale that we’ve been reporting on for a long time. As we’ve told you any number of times, this take — written by the director and Ari Handel, subsequently rewritten by John Logan — portrays Noah a something of a regretful, alcohol-drinking everyman; not your father’s ark-builder, I mean. Should the helmer’s past work and his own comments on the project being taken as (yes) Gospel, it could be a great role for many great actors. Which, as you can deduce for yourself, accounts for the trio of names listed above.

While I don’t know if Crowe is on the same level of talent and charisma as his preceding contenders — I don’t think many modern actors are, to be fair — I’ve got no bones with the pick; at the very least, he’d certainly come across believably as the man who builds a transport for two of every animal. I’m talking about that particular ruggedness to him, something that Bale or Fassbender don’t quite have to their advantage, wonderful though they are. Crowe‘s also a talented performer, if that means anything to you.

But, although Aronofsky‘s desire is as good as anything right now, it isn’t clear if this will actually get everyone a signed contract — Deadline says that “signs are pointing that way,” however. (Jeff Sneider also tells us that he could be starring in Jose Padilha‘s RoboCop reboot, but I can barely even take that as a rumor right now.)

There’s also the brief mention that, arguably, an even bigger name is being eyed for a part: Liam Neeson. No word on who that might be, but the only other character we’ve heard about — and this is a major one, mind you — is the closest thing Noah has to an antagonist; a doubter of the heavenly prophecies perpetuated by Noah, if you will. Though we can’t definitively (or, for that matter, remotely) say if this is who Neeson would play, anyone’s guess is as good as mine.

What do you think of Crowe as the lead of Noah? What about Neeson taking another role?