It’s Confirmed (ugh), Darren Aronofsky Will Direct ‘Wolverine 2’

Say it ain’t so, Darren. Say it ain’t so. As we all know, Zack Snyder was announced to direct Christopher Nolan’s Superman reboot a couple weeks back. What you perhaps didn’t know, is that Requiem for a Dream/The Wrestler/Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky was heavily speculated upon to take over Supes just before Synder’s confirmation. Well, DC’s loss is Marvel’s gain, I guess, as Hugh Jackman has confirmed that Aronofsky will direct him in the upcoming sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. (face palm/smh).

My cynicism and disappointment regarding this news is not at all directed at Mr. Aronofsky. I think he is a very talented, perhaps even brilliant filmmaker, who has given us some truly powerful, thought-provoking dramas over the years. But, if I may, X-Men Origins: Wolverine F**KING SUCKED!!! Seriously, that was an absolutely terrible film, with a pathetic story, cheesy one-liners and laughable CGI. That’s why it sucks to see a true auteur seemingly waste his talents. Not only because it’s a sequel to one of the worst comic-book movies of all time, but also because he’s taking over the reigns of a franchise mid-stream. Wolverine already has crap smeared all over it. Now Aronofsky has to get out his mop and clean up the joint.

Anyway, enough of my incessant ranting. Vulture recently caught up with Jackman, who confirmed Aronofsky’s involvement and promised that this sequel will have more “meat on the bones”:

This is Wolverine. This is not Popeye. He’s kind of dark… But, you know, this is a change of pace. Chris McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has written the script, so that’ll give you a good clue. [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure.

Ugh. Anyway, I will scratch tooth and nail to keep my hopes up for this project, as Aronofsky is a truly gifted artist, and Hugh Jackman is absolutely one of the best actors working today. And, the script was written by The Usual Suspects/Valkyrie scribe, Christopher McQuarrie. But alas, we don’t have enough prior goodness to latch too much faith upon.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 is slated to kick-off production soon in Japan, with a release date sometime in 2011.

What Do You Think? Discuss.