Russell Crowe: First look as ‘Noah’

USA Today has unveiled the first photo of Russell Crowe as the title character in Darren Aronofsky‘s big-budget biblical epic “Noah,” which is currently in production in Iceland. Check out the photo below.

The story follows the biblical tale of a man (Crowe) who is given the mission to build a giant vessel that can house two of every animal from the earth to save them from a giant flood that will wipe all life for a new beginning.

Aronofsky has been tweeting updates about his upcoming film, including several last month. “I dreamt about this since I was 13. And now it’s a reality. Genesis 6:14,” he said on July 11.

“Noah” won’t be your average Biblical epic though. Aronofsky plans to feature wingless angel demons and giants–based on his tweets, a creature named Og. Og was the King of Bahan, a race of giants, and part of the Rephaim in the Bible.

“According to Jewish folklore, Noah built a special compartment in the Ark for him and/or he rode out the flood by sitting on the top. Either way, we’ll see how Og will make an appearance, but it’s another interesting note to a movie that is playing as much with myth and legend as it is with the elements of the standard story we know,” writes Kevin Jagernauth.

The film is being made in Iceland, amidst inclement weather. Crowe has taken to his Twitter to talk about the cold and the wind during filming.

The new movie co-sars Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Douglas Booth, Emma Watson and Logan Lerman. It’s set to hit theaters on March 28th, 2014.