A few Darren Aronofsky updates today. One is completely insane and the other is an interesting factoid. We will get the likely bullsh*t out of the way first as Deadline is reporting that Fox is looking to Aronofsky as a canditate for directing the X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel. They report that Aronofsky has been talking with his The Fountain star Hugh Jackman about the project. Although Aronosfky was interested in jumping into bigger budget territory with the now-dead Robocop reboot, I could never really see him taking this on. Instead, Deadline reports that the gig will likely go to David Slade, who most recently directed The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Aronofsky also spoke with MTV recently about his upcoming ballerina thriller Black Swan and how it had early roots with his last feature, The Wrestler. Check out his quotes below.

“I’ve always considered the two films companion pieces. They are really connected and people will see the connections. It’s funny, because wrestling some consider the lowest art — if they would even call it art — and ballet some people consider the highest art. But what was amazing to me was how similar the performers in both of these worlds are. They both make incredible use of their bodies to express themselves.”

“At one point, way before I made ‘The Wrestler,’ I was actually developing a project that was about a love affair between a ballet dancer and a wrestler, and then it kind of split off into two movies,” he said. “So I guess my dream is that some art theater will play the films as a double feature some day.”

He also has high praise for his star Natalie Portman:

“One of the best things about the film is the casting of Natalie,” he explained. “She took the part and ran with it. I don’t know if when I was working with the writers we were consciously channeling Natalie or Natalie somehow transformed herself to the part, but they grew together.”

Black Swan opens the Venice Film Festival tomorrow. Wolverine 2 is expected to begin shooting this January in Japan.

Could you ever see Aronofsky directing Wolverine 2? Are you looking forward to Black Swan?

E-mail Jordan Raup here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TFS updates!

The trailer for one of the most anticipated films of the year is finally here. Darren Aronofsky has made some of the best films of the previous decade with Requiem For a Dream, The Fountain and The Wrestler. Kicking off this new decade with a supernatural ballerina thriller, Black Swan, he looks to continue his greatness.

The film stars Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder. Check it out trailer, which looks much more freaky than expected, below via Apple.

Synopsis: BLACK SWAN follows the story of Nina (Portman), a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her retired ballerina mother Erica (Barbara Hershey) who zealously supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Winona Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Black Swan will premiere at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals before hitting theaters Dec. 1st.

What do you think of the trailer?

E-mail Jordan Raup here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TFS updates!

Fox Searchlight has just announced that the psychological ballet thriller from Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream) will hit limited release on December 1st before expanding the following months. It will open next to Julian Schnabel‘s Miral. Check out the synopsis below.

Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a technically brilliant ballerina whose life takes some strange turns after being picked as the lead in a New York City production of Swan Lake. Pressures mount as her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey) pushes her to succeed and her manipulative dance master (Vincent Cassel) commands her to be more seductive and loose in her performance. Complicating matters is the arrival of Lily (Mila Kunis), a sultry dancer who exhibits all the innate ease and sexuality that Nina lacks. Nina begins to fixate on the newcomer as the two forge an unusual relationship.

The film will open at both Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals this fall. You can check out our first look here and expect a trailer soon.

E-mail Jordan Raup here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TFS updates!

I’m not sure Paramount/Marvel are too happy about this, but the full Comic-Con trailer for Kenneth Branagh‘s Thor has made its way online. The superhero blockbuster stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgård, Tom Hiddleston and Ray Stevenson. You can check out the 5 minute video below in the best quality that’s been released.

UPDATE: Video on our server removed at the request of Paramount. You may try your luck here or below.

Plot: Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: THOR. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his evil brother Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, a young woman who befriends Thor on Earth, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor’s father and king of Asgard. Expect to see agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., previously seen in ”Iron Man,” to make an appearance, further forshadowing the coming of The Avengers!

Thor hits theaters May 6th, 2011.

What do you think of the early footage?

E-mail Jordan Raup here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TFS updates!

With recent news that the much anticipated new film by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan, will open the 67th Venice International Film Festival, fans are dying to catch an early glimpse of what this psychological ballet thriller might look like. Well fret not as the first batch of images from the film, starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis (dream duo), have hit the internets and they are spectacular. Being both a die-hard Aronofsky and Portman fan, this is like a fantasy football pairing between two of my favorite working actors and directors. And coming off the success of The Wrestler (which won the Golden Lion in 2008), Aronofsky is poised to make a big comeback and re-claim the cinematic throne he once held.

The dark tale with psychological twists stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a technically brilliant ballerina whose life takes some strange turns after being picked as the lead in a New York City production of Swan Lake. Pressures mount as her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey) pushes her to succeed and her manipulative dance master (Vincent Cassel) commands her to be more seductive and loose in her performance.

Complicating matters is the arrival of Lily (Mila Kunis), a sultry dancer who exhibits all the innate ease and sexuality that Nina lacks. Nina begins to fixate on the newcomer as the two forge an unusual relationship. Source USA Today.

Check out the photos below:

What do you think of Black Swan?

Acclaimed German filmmaker Tom Tykwer is currently working on his script adaptation of David Mitchell‘s popular novel Cloud Atlas, a project with six main characters that spans thousands of years and several different genres. Ambitious to say the least, it only makes sense that Tykwer is going after some of the best talent Hollywood currently has, as The Playlist reports that roles in the film were recently offered to Tom Hanks (Toy Story 3), Natalie Portman (Brothers), Halle Berry, James McAvoy, and Ian McKellan.

Tykwer, who directed the kinetic action movie Run Lola Run and, most recently, helmed The International, has always had a taste for the unusual. Although his casting aspirations may seem like an array of random Hollywood stars, some may recall that Portman appeared in Tykwer‘s contribution to Paris, je t’aime. (He helmed the “Faubourg Saint-Denis” segment.)

Considering the star power that The International had – Clive Owen and Naomi Watts starred – one would think that Hanks and company would be completely open to working with Tykwer, especially when taking into account the vast potential of the source material.

Do you think these actors will accept Tykwer’s offer? What did you think of the novel?

Say this ten times fast: “Important Artifacts and Personal Property From the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry.”

Mouthful, isn’t it? Cumbersome titles aside, The Playlist is reporting that “Important Artifacts” has recently become the next project for Paramount and Greg Mottola, the man in the director’s chair for Superbad and Adventureland (which he also penned). There is no info yet as to whether or not Mottola is set to direct, but to sweeten the pot, both Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman are attached to star and produce the project.

The recently-published novel, written by Leanne Shapton, is crafted as an auction catalog of items belonging to a couple – a photographer (Pitt) and a food columnist (Portman) – after their four-year relationship. The Playlist notes that the items range from the mundane and trivial, slowly becoming more personal and melancholy as the list moves on.

The structure certainly sounds promising enough, and Mottola’s plans to craft a romantic comedy out of it could work wonders, especially with Pitt and Portman starring opposite one another.

Well I’m certainly on board, but how ’bout you? Will this premise, combined with the talents of Mottola, Pitt and Portman, prove to be a successful mix for a rom-com?

Paramount Pictures and Marvel have released today an updated plot synopsis for Thor. The official release is as follows…

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, ‘Thor‘, which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war.

Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love.

It’s while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Due for a May 2011 release, Thor promises a story full of action. With a cast that, along with those mentioned above, includes Rene Russo, Idris Elba and Stellan Skarsgard, as well as being directed by theater stalwart Kenneth Branagh, the final result should be immense.

What are your reactions to the plot of Thor?

Natalie Portman is set to produce a stoner road trip comedy flick Best Buds through her production company Handsome Charlie Films. The film will be co-produced alongside Vendome Pictures who are co-producing Tom Hanks’ Larry Crowne and Duncan Jones’ Source Code .

The independently financed comedy is said to be in the vein of Harold and Kumar and Half-Baked and will center on two best female friends who take a road trip to their friend’s wedding in order to save her by bringing her weed. [Source Pajiba]

This is an interesting choice for Portman, whose company has Hesher lined up for distribution alongside the production of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies set to start after filming of Thor. It’ll be nice to see the budding actress and producer flex her comedy skills and hopefully subvert the stale stoner genre with a female twist.

What’s your favorite Natalie Portman film?

Natalie Portman will be able to soon add “Period piece zombie film” to her body of work as she is now set to star in and produce Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The film is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Variety describes the film as telling “the timeless story of a woman’s quest for love and independence amid the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns the undead into vicious killers.”  The story takes much of the classic novel by Jane Austen and mashes it together with what is clearly the most likely of situations — a terrible zombie outbreak. Portman, who will surely be classically beautiful as always, will play Elizabeth Bennet, a fiery zombie killing version of her novel born counterpart.

Richard Kelly will be a co-producer on the project with Portman and the film will be financed and distributed by Lionsgate, but as a director has still not been chosen, the approach taken with the direction and tone of the story will be interesting to discover. Will it be more romance and drama focused or more straight horror?

Either way, something about Natalie Portman in 19th Century English attire (a tattered corset perhaps?) slaying zombies makes me feel all giddy and tingly in a way that let’s just say I probably wouldn’t explain to my grandmother.

Are you as excited as I am? If so, have you read the book?

Source: Variety