Aronofsky & Paramount In Dispute Over "Noah"

Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and Paramount Pictures are at odds over the final cut of the  biblical epic "Noah".

The spat follows reactions from test screening audiences for the film consisting of people of varying faiths according to THR.

Studio vice chairman Rob Moore insists the film is going through a "normal preview process", while the final film released in the Cineplex will be "one version of the movie that Darren is overseeing."

A source claims Aronofsky has been resistant to Paramount's suggested changes - "Darren is not made for studio films. He's very dismissive. He doesn't care about [the studio's] opinion."

There are essentially two different visions at work here. Aronofsky has made an Aronofsky film, and the movie he always set out to make - a grounded take on the Noah legend which veers away from the Biblical elements and portrays the character as essentially an environmental extremist.

The studio on the other hand wants a film that appeals to both secular and faith-based audiences, especially the latter. There's also said to be some problems with the third act - serious enough there's concerns about alienating the potentially huge Christian audience.

We also don't know if Aronofsky has final cut. Paramount and New Regency Enterprises have split the bill for the $140 million film which includes a  lot of visual effects.

Moore says the studio knew ahead of time there would be "a very long postproduction period, which allowed for a lot of test screenings. [Aronofsky] wants some level of independence, he also wants a hit movie. We're getting to a very good place, and we're getting there with Darren."

An adaptation of the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, Russell Crowe stars as the man who must build an Ark to save all of creation from a coming flood.

Saoirse Ronan, Douglas Booth, Logan Lerman, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Durand Icelandic actors Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson Arnar Dan Mark Margolis and Emma Watson also star.

Aronofsky & Ari Handel, wrote the original script for "Noah," but they eventually handed re-writing duties to John Logan (The Last Samurai, Gladiator).

Aronofsky, Mary Parent and Scott Franklin are producing the pic.

The film has a March 28th 2014 U.S. release planned.