Darren Aronofsky signs two-year Fox deal

Darren Aronofsky and has signed a two-year contract to make movies at 20th Century Fox with his Protozoa Pictures production company.

The acclaimed filmmaker, whose upcoming ballet thriller Black Swan releases next month, will first direct Marvel Comics blockbuster The Wolverine under the agreement.

The superhero project, which reunites Aronofsky with his Fountain star Hugh Jackman, will begin production next April.

Aronofsky's The Wrestler and Black Swan were both released through Fox's indie label Fox Searchlight.

"Darren's vision has brought audiences some of the most original and memorable stories and characters in recent motion picture history,” said Fox Searchlight heads Steve Gilula and Nancy Utley.

"We at Fox witnessed this first hand with his work on The Wrestler, and Black Swan, and now, on The Wolverine, which will be an exciting take on that iconic figure and on the genre itself. We can't wait to see what else Darren has in store for us."