Watch the 'Noah' Ark Come to Life in New Behind-the-Scenes Trailer of 2014 Biblical Epic
The creators of the upcoming "Noah" biblical epic starring Russell Crowe have released a video trailer featuring an inside look at how they brought to life what is undeniably the movie's biggest prop and centerpiece — the massive ark that the Old Testament narrative says was built by Noah and his family to protect them and "all living creatures" from a worldwide flood.
"There was a huge issue of what is this ark gonna look like," says Director and co-writer Darren Aronofsky in the trailer. "The idea was let's go back to what God tells Noah in the Bible."
Aronofsky adds, "It basically describes a box. It doesn't talk about a bow. It doesn't have to navigate. It wasn't like Noah was trying to take the ship anywhere. It basically has to survive the flood."
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The director revealed that the ark used on set was built to the actual scope of what is described by God in the Bible to Noah.
According to production designer Mark Friedberg, it took his team more than a year to develop a blueprint for the ark, and it took them only six months to build the massive structure.
While the biblical account does not say how long it took Noah and his family to build the ark, the narrative does note an advancement of 100 years from when the Old Testament figure is introduced (at 500 years old) and when he is told by God to enter the ark with his family (read about it here). Some Christians, such as Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, also suggest that it could have taken Noah 55-75 years to complete the ark.
"It's a great adventure story and a great drama, about surviving in impossible times," adds Aronofsky in the video trailer. "I think it will be very exciting for people to go on a journey with Noah and his family."
Watch the "Noah" movie "Ark Featurette" video below, and then read the Genesis account that inspired the film's designers in recreating the ark.
Genesis 6:9-21 tells the account of God's reason for the flood, decision to spare Noah and his family, and instructions for building the ark:
... Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high.d Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around.f Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. …
You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."
The plot description for the "Noah" movie reads: "The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood."
The film opens in theaters across the U.S. Friday, March 28. In addition to Russell Crowe, some leading cast members include Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, and Nick Nolte. Ari Handel co-wrote the script with Aronofsky, with the pair having previously teamed up in 2006 for the award-winning "The Fountain," a romantic drama also with religious themes. Find more details at the official movie website: www.noahmovie.com.
