Darren Aronofsky to Produce Film Based on Jessica Stern’s Memoir ‘Denial’ (EXCLUSIVE)

07/04/2016 - Darren Aronofsky is set to produce Undeniable — based on the best-selling memoir “Denial” by Jessica Stern. Sebastian Schipper, who helmed the critically-acclaimed “Victoria,” will direct the movie from a script by “Shame” screenwriter Abi Morgan. Schipper penned the first draft of the script. Stern, one of the leading experts in terrorism and post-traumatic stress disorder, published “Denial” in 2010. She opens up in the memoir about being raped, along with her sister, as teenagers, by an unknown assailant. The book also chronicles her attempts, decades later, to investigate the unsolved crime and address her own trauma surrounding it. Aronofsky will produce through his Protozoa Pictures. Although he has a first-look deal with New Regency, sources tell Variety that the company has passed on the project. It is unknown if Aronofsky will wait for more talent to come on board before shopping the package to other studios or take it out as is. Aronofsky has become more involved in producing over the last couple of years. His upcoming projects include the Arnold Schwarzenegger thriller “478” and the biopic “Jackie,” which are both set to bow later this year. He is currently preparing for his next directing gig at Paramount which stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem. Morgan most recently penned “Suffragette” and has a handful of films in development, such as “Little House on the Prairie” for Paramount. She is repped by CAA and Independent Talent Group. The film marks Schipper’s English-language debut after mainly directing German films that have included “A Friend of Mine” and “Sometime in August.” He is repped by CAA and Anonymous Content. Aronofsky is repped by CAA.

(VARIETY)