The Australian actor will play Noah in Darren Aronofsky’s feature of the same name, the studio said on Sunday (22).

Paramount is due to release Noah on Mar 28 2014 and production is scheduled for Iceland and New York in July.

“I’d like to thank Paramount and Regency for backing my team’s work to breathe new life into the biblical epic,” Aronofsky said in a statement.

“I rejoice that Russell Crowe will be by my side on this adventure. It’s his immense talent that helps me to sleep at night. I look forward to being wowed by him every day.”

Aronofksy and Ari Handel wrote the screenplay based on the biblical character who is given a divine mission to save creation from an imminent flood sent to clean out a world ravage by human sin. John Logan revised the script.

Scott Franklin and Aronofsky of Protozoa Pictures are producing with Mary Parent of Disruption Entertainment, will produce the film. Handel, New Regency head Arnon Milchan and Chris Brigham serve as executive producers.