Darren Aronofsky was able to get Noah, his expensive biblical epic, picked up by Paramount and New Regency.  However, before a studio came on board, Aronofsky was going the route he went with The Fountain where he was planning to release a graphic novel as a means to sell the film.  Even though the movie now has a home, work continued on the comic (co-written by Ari Handel) and now the first volume has been released in Europe with new images and a trailer.  I can’t read French, but it certainly looks epic and Nico Henrichon’s art is gorgeous.

Hit the jump to check out the new images, the trailer, and a translation of the synopsis.  Noah is looking to start filming in spring 2012.

Darren Aronofsky has a passion project and it isn’t The Wolverine (although I’m sure he’ll do a fine job with that movie).  Since he was 13-years-old, the Oscar-nominated director has wanted to do a movie based on the Bible’s Noah.  However, since he doesn’t have a greenlight on the project, Aronofsky is taking the route he did for The Fountain: graphic novel.  For those unfamiliar with the history of that project, The Fountain was originally intended to be a more expensive film and star Brad Pitt.  However, Pitt dropped out at the last minute and Aronofsky, still desperate to tell the story, decided to make a graphic novel instead.  He then re-constituted the film with a smaller budget and got it made.

Hit the jump for more on the project and to check out the first images plus a French trailer for Aronofsky’s Noah graphic novel with artwork by Nico Henrichon (Pride of Baghdad).  The graphic novel is due out in 2012.