Harry Potter actress Emma Watson is staying incredibly busy following the release of the final entry in the most popular film franchise of all time. She recently wrapped Sofia Coppolaâs next film, The Bling Ring, sheâll be seen later this year in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and sheâll be making an appearance in the star-studded co-directorial debut of Seth Rogen, The End of the World. She was set to reteam with Potter director David Yates on the promising drama Your Voice in My Head, but Yates was forced to drop out of that project due to family issues. While it seems like production on the drama may be pushed back a bit further, Watson has found an incredibly suitable replacement project to shoot in the meantime: Darren Aronofskyâs Noah. Hit the jump for more.
Per Deadline, Watson is in talks to join the Black Swan directorâs biblical epic as a young woman who develops a close relationship with one of Noahâs sons.  Saoirse Ronan was previously rumored to be considering a role in Noah, but it appears Watson may have nabbed the "young female" role in the pic.  Russell Crowe is set as the titular character, and we recently learned that Douglas Booth and Watsonâs Perks co-star Logan Lerman are joining the cast as two of Noahâs sons. Watson wonât be repeating the romance seen in Perks, as Deadline reports that her characterâs relationship is with Boothâs character in Noah. Aronofsky still has yet to cast Noahâs wife and the filmâs antagonist, but I expect weâll heard word on those roles soon as the director is gearing up to begin production in the coming months in New York and Iceland.
Watson is really putting together quite the post-Potter career, as sheâs also poised to star in director Guillermo del Toroâs reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. She did great work in the Potter series, and Iâm eager to see her stretch her chops. With a celeb-obsessed socialite turn in Coppolaâs Bling Ring, a comedic turn in End of the World, and this promising dramatic turn in Noah, weâre sure to see many shades of Watsonâs talent in the next few years. Noah is slated to open on March 28th, 2014.
[Update: Variety reports that Liev Schreiber and Julianne Moore are in contention for the respective roles of the film's antagonist and Noah's faithful wife, Naameth. Moore's schedule is in question due to her filming of MGM's remake of Carrie.]