Darren Aronofsky (born February 12, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. He is engaged to actress Rachel Weisz, with whom he has a son, Henry Chance, born May 31, 2006.
Aronofsky was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His parents were both public school teachers. He graduated Edward R. Murrow High School early and backpacked around the Middle East, Europe and Guatemala for six months.
In 1987 he entered Harvard University and studied anthropology, live action film and animation. His senior thesis film Supermarket Sweep starred his fellow student and friend Sean Gullette It was a finalist in the 1991 Student Academy Awards. He graduated in 1991 with honors.
Next, he attended the AFI Conservatory and graduated with an M.F.A. degree in 1992.
Main article: π (film)
In 1996 Aronofsky began developing the concept for his first feature film "π", a psychological sci-fi thriller. After the π script received positive reactions from friends, he began production. The film re-teamed Aronofsky with Sean Gullette, who played the lead. During production, Aronofsky and crew realized they didn't have enough money to complete the film. Associate Producer Scott Franklin came up with the idea to raise completion funds by asking every person they knew for $100. Later in production certain individuals put in more cash, which let Aronofsky complete the film. After π was completed (with a budget somewhere around $60,000), it premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and Aronofsky won the Directing Award. The film was picked up by distributor Artisan Entertainment and released in selected cities. The film later won an Independent Spirit Award and the Open Palm. $100 investors were said to be subsequently re-paid with $150. π featured use of the SnorriCam, one of Aronofsky's trademarks.
When Joel Schumacher threatened to end the franchise with the campy box-office disappointment Batman & Robin in 1997, many directors tried to bring a darker take on Batman to the big screen. Many directors had failed including Schumacher who tried twice with Batman Triumphant featuring both the Scarecrow and the Joker. Aronofsky came the closest by coming up with the idea of doing a low-budget take on Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. Christian Bale even said that he was about to sign on to the project just before it stalled in 2002. After Aronofsky's project failed, along came Christopher Nolan, David Goyer and Batman Begins in which Bale did eventually play the Dark Knight.
Main article: Requiem for a Dream
One of Aronofsky's favorite books is Hubert Selby Jr.'s Last Exit to Brooklyn.[citation needed] While editing π, producer Eric Watson convinced Aronofsky to read another Selby book, Requiem for a Dream, which Aronofsky had actually started reading years before but never finished. He was moved by the novel and wanted to film an adaptation, quickly beginning work on the script with Selby. Aronofsky pulled no punches in delivering a relentless and disturbing movie of hopes and dreams shattered and lives laid waste by drug addiction. The film was a clinical depiction of the depths to which some people will sink to in the hope of attaining their dreams. The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and was greeted by a 13 minute standing ovation. It was released in the United States in October, 2000. Ellen Burstyn was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Sara Goldfarb.
Main article: The Fountain (film)
Aronofsky next commenced writing an original screenplay entitled "The Last Man", later changed to "The Fountain" starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. In 2002, days away from the start of filming, Pitt pulled out due to "creative differences", and the film collapsed. Sets were auctioned off once Warner Bros. Productions shut down filming. Warner Bros. however, decided to simply shelve the project and keep it as an option, so long as Aronofsky could find the proper cast. In 2005, The Fountain was resurrected with new stars Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz.
The Fountain was released in the United States on November 22, 2006. It was released on DVD in the United States and Canada on May 15, 2007.
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On January 17 2007 Comingsoon.net reported that Aronofsky had signed on to direct Black Swan, a film described as a psychological thriller that "looks at the manipulative relationship between a veteran dancer and a rival."The website reported on March 27 that Aronofsky had also signed on to direct The Fighter, the tale of the rise of Boston boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, who nabbed the world lightweight title with the help of his once down-and-out half-brother Dicky, who became a trainer. The film is expected to star Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg. Filming is reported to begin early summer in Massachusetts.
Other future projects that Aronofsky has been linked to include the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, in which the title character would be portrayed as an alcoholic, an adaptation of Theodore Roszak's novel Flicker, Dan Simmons' novel Song of Kali and Black Flies which is based on the novel Safelight by Shannon Burke.
