UPDATED: Check out the first image of Russell Crowe in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah

UPDATED: Higher res image of the original photo gives you a better look of Crowe in character.

The first look at Russell Crowe as NOAH in the film of the same name from director Darren Aronofsky has arrived and features an aged, scruffy vision of the Biblical character.  The film began shooting last month and will continue for some time before seeing theaters in March, 2014.

Take a look:

Crowe looks right at home here, ready to build a boat, collect some animals, and weather a storm.  With Aronofsky at the helm and screenwriter John Logan (GLADIATOR) on writing duty, I have no doubt that NOAH will bring the thunder when it hits the big screen. 

The pic also stars Crowe’s A BEAUTIFUL MIND co-star Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, Kevin Durand, Logan Lerman, and Douglas Booth. The cast alone is enough to plant me in the theater.  Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Aronofsky has been tweeting pics and updates on his Twitter account since the start of production, which you can follow here if you’re so inclined.

NOAH sails into history on March 28, 2014.

From the set…