Hollywood is no stranger to big sets, but Darren Aronofsky just took “epic” to a whole new level.
A brand-new behind-the-scenes featurette for the upcoming film Noah is currently going viral, giving fans an inside look at the literal heavy lifting required to bring the iconic Biblical story to life.
While the film has already sparked heated debates among religious groups regarding its creative portrayal of the story, this new footage focuses on something everyone can agree is a feat of engineering: the Ark itself.
Director Darren Aronofsky reveals in the featurette that despite the film’s Hollywood flair, they stuck to the “actual specifications” laid out in the Bible when it came to crafting the vessel.
Production designer Mark Friedberg breaks down the math that has social media users scratching their heads. The Ark was built to be cubits high, cubits wide, and cubits long.
For those of us who aren’t ancient mathematicians, Friedberg explains that a cubit is the distance between a person’s elbow and their forefinger.
The practical version built for the set was a staggering feet long, which was then extended digitally to reach a mind-blowing feet for the big screen.
The cast is just as obsessed with the build as the fans are. Russell Crowe, who plays the titular Noah, describes the sheer awe of seeing the structure for the first time.
“Harry Potter” alum Emma Watson also weighs in, calling the production a “huge undertaking” as she navigates the massive set.
On X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, fans are marveling at the scale of the project. “I thought this would be all CGI, but seeing the actual wood and structure is insane,” one fan commented.
The footage shows the stars dwarfed by the massive wooden walls of the Ark, emphasizing just how much physical labor went into Aronofsky’s vision.
It’s a bold move for the director, whose first Biblical adventure is already one of the most talked-about films of the season.
By grounding the film in the physical reality of a massive, hand-built ship, the production team seems to be bridging the gap between ancient text and modern cinema.
Whether you’re there for the drama or the craftsmanship, one thing is for sure: this isn’t your Sunday school’s Ark.
Would you like me to look up the official release date for Noah or find more behind-the-scenes clips of Emma Watson on set?
