Editing Darren Aronofsky (section)

===Early work===
Aronofsky's debut feature, titled ''[[Pi (film)|Pi]]''—sometimes stylized as ''π''—was shot in October 1997. The film was financed in part from $100 donations from his friends and family.<ref name="darren1">{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/movies/features/24368/ |title=Pi in the Sky |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |author=Idov, Michael |date=November 19, 2006 |page=[https://nymag.com/movies/features/24368/index1.html 2] |access-date=December 19, 2010 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021025501/http://nymag.com/movies/features/24368/ |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> In return, he promised to pay each back $150 if the film made money, and they would at least get screen credit if the film lost money.<ref name="darren2"/> Producing the film with an initial budget of $60,000, Aronofsky [[premiere]]d ''Pi'' at the 1998 [[Sundance Film Festival]], where he won the [[List of Sundance Film Festival award winners#1998|Best Director]] award. The film itself was nominated for a special Jury Award.<ref name="pi2">{{cite web| url = http://videoplace.myvideostore.com/content/askhollywood/interviews/darren_aronofsky/index.html?client=videoplace| title = The Ask Hollywood Interview: Part 1| publisher = Videoplace| access-date = December 19, 2010| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714144711/http://videoplace.myvideostore.com/content/askhollywood/interviews/darren_aronofsky/index.html?client=videoplace| archive-date = July 14, 2011| df = mdy-all}}</ref> [[Artisan Entertainment]] bought distribution rights for $1 million.<ref name="darren2"/> The film was released to the public later that year to critical acclaim and it grossed a total of $3,221,152 at the box-office.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=pi.htm | title=Pi | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date=December 18, 2010 | archive-date=January 11, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111005623/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=pi.htm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/pi | title=Pi | website=Metacritic | access-date=December 4, 2009 | archive-date=August 13, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813073700/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/pi | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Pi'' was the first film to be made available for download on the [[Internet]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/70680763/SightSound-to-Netcast-Franchise-Pix|title=SightSound to Netcast Franchise Pix|website=Scribd|access-date=March 27, 2017|archive-date=March 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105154/https://www.scribd.com/doc/70680763/SightSound-to-Netcast-Franchise-Pix|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aronofsky followed his debut with ''[[Requiem for a Dream]]'', a film based on [[Hubert Selby Jr.]]'s [[Requiem for a Dream (novel)|novel of the same name]]. He was paid $50,000, and worked for three years with nearly the same production team as his previous film.<ref name = "nodream">{{cite web | url = https://www.indiewire.com/article/decade_darren_aronofsky_on_requiem_for_a_dream/ | title = Decade: Darren Aronofsky on 'Requiem For a Dream' | publisher = indieWIRE | author = Kaufman, Anthony | date = December 1, 2009 | access-date = December 19, 2010 | archive-date = December 15, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101215123420/http://www.indiewire.com/article/decade_darren_aronofsky_on_requiem_for_a_dream/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Following the financial breakout of ''Pi'', he was capable of hiring established actors, including [[Ellen Burstyn]] and [[Jared Leto]], and received a budget of $3,500,000 to produce the film.<ref name="nodream2">{{cite web| url = http://www.drunkenfist.com/movies/hollywood/requiem-for-a-dream.php| title = Requiem for a Dream| publisher = Drunkenfist| access-date = December 19, 2010| archive-date = December 22, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101222074931/http://www.drunkenfist.com/movies/hollywood/requiem-for-a-dream.php| url-status = live}}</ref> Production of the film occurred over the period of one year, with the film being released in October 2000. The film went on to gross $7,390,108 worldwide.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=requiemforadream.htm| title=Requiem for a Dream| work=[[Box Office Mojo]]| access-date=December 18, 2010| archive-date=December 16, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216055621/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=requiemforadream.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> Aronofsky received acclaim for his stylish direction, and was nominated for another Independent Spirit Award, this time for Best Director.<ref name="spirit">{{cite web | url = http://www.blackflix.com/articles/ind.spirit.2001.html | title = Articles: Independent Spirit Awards | publisher = Blackflix.com | author = Stevens, Jim | date = April 20, 2001 | access-date = March 24, 2010 | archive-date = October 27, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101027092938/http://blackflix.com/articles/ind.spirit.2001.html | url-status = live }}</ref> The film itself was nominated for five awards in total, winning two, for Best Actress and Cinematography.<ref name="spirit"/> [[Clint Mansell]]'s soundtrack for the film was also well-regarded, and since their first collaboration in 1996, Mansell has composed the music to every Aronofsky film (except for ''Mother!'', 2017 and ''The Whale'', 2022).<ref>{{cite news|last=Bray|first=Elisa|date=January 28, 2011|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/duo-darren-aronofsky-and-clint-mansell-score-on-pointes-2196210.html|title=Duo Darren Aronofsky and Clint Mansell score on pointes|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|access-date=January 31, 2011|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110134833/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/duo-darren-aronofsky-and-clint-mansell-score-on-pointes-2196210.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Requiem for a Dream Clint Mansell| author = Phares, Heather| publisher = Allmusicguide.com| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/r499057| access-date = December 19, 2010| archive-date = December 3, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111203212051/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r499057| url-status = live}}</ref> Ellen Burstyn was nominated for numerous awards, including for an [[Academy Award for Best Actress]], and won the Independent Spirit Award.<ref name="spirit"/><ref>{{cite news |title = 2000 Academy Awards Winners and History |url = http://www.filmsite.org/aa00.html |access-date = December 19, 2010 |work = Filomsite.org |archive-date = September 5, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150905113109/http://www.filmsite.org/aa00.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Ellen Burstyn – Awards| url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000995/awards| access-date=November 22, 2017| website=IMDb| archive-date=December 16, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216114432/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000995/awards| url-status=live}}</ref> Aronofsky was awarded the [[PRISM Award]] from the [[Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]] with the [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]] for the film's depiction of drug abuse.<ref>{{cite news | title = 2000 Nominations and Winners | url = http://eiconline.org/resources/mediacenter/pressreleases_pr.php?id=pr013101 | access-date = October 21, 2015 | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103217/http://eiconline.org/resources/mediacenter/pressreleases_pr.php?id=pr013101 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In May 2000, Aronofsky was briefly attached to make an adaptation of [[David Wiesner]]'s 1999 children's book ''[[Sector 7 (book)|Sector 7]]'' for [[Nickelodeon Movies]], the project remains unmade.<ref>{{cite news|author=Corona.bc.ca|title=Coming Attractions&nbsp;– Sector 7|url=http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/sector7.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010410070243/http://www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/sector7.html|archive-date=April 10, 2001|date = May 24, 2000|access-date = December 10, 2013}}</ref> In mid-2000, [[Warner Bros.]] hired Aronofsky to write and direct ''Batman: Year One'', which was to be the fifth film in the [[Batman]] franchise.<ref name=Dana>{{cite news|first = Dana|last = Harris|url = https://variety.com/2000/film/news/wb-sends-pi-guy-into-the-bat-cave-1117786714/|title = WB sends ''Pi'' guy into the Bat Cave|work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date = September 21, 2000|access-date = December 12, 2019|archive-date = December 12, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213843/https://variety.com/2000/film/news/wb-sends-pi-guy-into-the-bat-cave-1117786714/|url-status = live}}</ref> Aronofsky, who collaborated with [[Frank Miller]] on an unproduced script for ''[[Ronin (DC Comics)|Ronin]]'', brought Miller in to co-write ''Year One'' with him, intending to [[reboot (fiction)|reboot]] the series.<ref>{{cite news|first = Brian|last = Linder|work = [[IGN]]|title = The Bat-Men Speak|url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/16/the-bat-men-speak|date = October 16, 2000|access-date = December 12, 2019|archive-date = December 12, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213843/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/16/the-bat-men-speak|url-status = live}}</ref> "It's ''somewhat'' based on the comic book", Aronofsky later said. "Toss out everything you can imagine about Batman! Everything! We're starting completely anew", who intended to re-imagine the titular character in a darker, adult-oriented and grounded style, with his adaptation aiming for an R-rating.<ref>{{cite news|first = Brian|last = Linder|url = https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/06/aronofsky-talks-batman-year-oneagain|title = Aronofsky Talks ''Batman: Year One''&nbsp;... Again|work = [[IGN]]|date = December 6, 2000|access-date = October 17, 2008|archive-date = November 5, 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105053532/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/06/aronofsky-talks-batman-year-oneagain|url-status = live}}</ref> Regular Aronofsky collaborator [[Matthew Libatique]] was set as cinematographer,<ref>{{cite news|author = Andrew O. Thompson|url = https://variety.com/2000/film/news/matthew-libatique-1117788894/|title = Matthew Libatique|work = Variety|date = November 8, 2000|access-date = December 12, 2019|archive-date = December 12, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213843/https://variety.com/2000/film/news/matthew-libatique-1117788894/|url-status = live}}</ref> and Aronofsky had also approached [[Christian Bale]] for the role of Batman. Bale was ultimately cast in the role for ''[[Batman Begins]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author = Adam Smith|title = The Original ''American Psycho''|work = [[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date= July 2005|pages = 74–80, 82, 84, 87}}</ref> After that project failed to develop, Aronofsky declined the opportunity to direct a film in the ''Batman'' franchise.<ref>{{cite news|first = Dana|last = Harris|url = https://variety.com/2002/film/news/wb-fewer-pix-more-punch-1117869140/|title = WB: fewer pix, more punch|work = Variety|date = June 30, 2002|access-date = December 12, 2019|archive-date = December 12, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212214200/https://variety.com/2002/film/news/wb-fewer-pix-more-punch-1117869140/|url-status = live}}</ref> In March 2001, he helped write the screenplay to the [[horror film]] ''[[Below (film)|Below]]'', which he also produced.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/below-2-1200545661/|title=Below Review|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=March 16, 2008|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=October 6, 2002|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212220313/https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/below-2-1200545661/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2001, Aronofsky entered negotiations with [[Warner Bros.]] and [[Village Roadshow]] to direct a then-untitled science fiction film, with [[Brad Pitt]] in the lead role.<ref name="epic">{{cite news | last=Linder | first=Brian | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/05/aronofsky-pitt-team-for-sci-fi-epic | title=Aronofsky, Pitt Team for Sci-Fi Epic | work=[[IGN]] | date=April 5, 2001 | access-date=December 12, 2019 | archive-date=December 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212213848/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/05/aronofsky-pitt-team-for-sci-fi-epic | url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2001, actress [[Cate Blanchett]] entered talks to join the film,<ref>{{cite news | last=Linder | first=Brian | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/28/blanchett-joining-pitt-in-aronofskys-next | title=Blanchett Joining Pitt in Aronofsky's Next | work=[[IGN]] | date=June 7, 2001 | access-date=December 19, 2010 | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103185551/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/28/blanchett-joining-pitt-in-aronofskys-next | url-status=live }}</ref> which Aronofsky, wanting the title to remain secret, had given the [[working title]] of ''The Last Man''.<ref>{{cite news | last=Topel | first=Fred | url=http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/articles/04647134/crave_talks_to_darren_aronofsky.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195728/http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/articles/04647134/crave_talks_to_darren_aronofsky.html | archive-date=September 27, 2007| title= Crave talks to Darren Aronofsky | work=CraveOnline.com | date=November 7, 2006 |access-date = December 19, 2010}}</ref> Production was postponed to wait for a pregnant Blanchett to give birth to her child in December 2001. Production was ultimately set for late October 2002 in Queensland and Sydney.

By now officially titled ''[[The Fountain]]'', the film had a budget of $70 million, co-financed by Warner Bros. and [[New Regency]], which had filled the gap after Village Roadshow withdrew.<ref name=Fo>{{cite news | last=Linder | first=Brian | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/25/fountain-flows-at-warner-bros | title=Fountain Flows at Warner Bros. | work=[[IGN]] | date=July 25, 2002 | access-date=December 19, 2010 | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103185732/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/25/fountain-flows-at-warner-bros | url-status=live }}</ref> Pitt left the project seven weeks before the first day of shooting, halting production.<ref name="outsider">{{cite news | last=Silberman | first=Steve | url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/outsider_pr.html | title=The Outsider | work=[[Wired News]] | date=November 1, 2006 | access-date=December 19, 2010 | archive-date=June 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604235555/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.11/outsider_pr.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2004, Warner Bros. resurrected it on a $35 million budget with [[Hugh Jackman]] in the lead role.<ref>{{cite news | last= Linder | first= Brian | url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/28/the-fountain-flows-again | title= ''The Fountain'' Flows Again | work= [[IGN]] | date= February 7, 2004 | access-date= December 12, 2019 | archive-date= December 12, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191212223348/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/28/the-fountain-flows-again | url-status= live }}</ref> In August, actress [[Rachel Weisz]] filled the vacancy left by Blanchett.<ref>{{cite news | last=Linder | first=Brian | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/536/536252p1.html | title=Weisz Wades Into ''Fountain'' | work=[[IGN]] | date=August 4, 2004 | access-date=December 19, 2010 | archive-date=May 22, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522141112/http://movies.ign.com/articles/536/536252p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Fountain'' was released on November 22, 2006, a day before the American [[Thanksgiving]] holiday; ultimately it grossed $15,978,422 in theaters worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=fountain.htm | title=The Fountain (2006) | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date=May 18, 2007 | archive-date=July 15, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715151452/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=fountain.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences and critics were divided in their responses to it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://moviemezzanine.com/the-darren-aronofsky-retrospective-fountain/|title=The Darren Aronofsky Retrospective: 'The Fountain' {{!}} Movie Mezzanine|website=moviemezzanine.com|date=January 27, 2013 |access-date=January 23, 2017|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112123751/http://moviemezzanine.com/the-darren-aronofsky-retrospective-fountain/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Ebert | first=Roger | author-link=Roger Ebert | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070913/REVIEWS/709130305/1023 | title='The Fountain' spews forth lots of babble | work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] | date=September 14, 2007 | access-date=December 4, 2009 | archive-date=February 11, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211185832/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070913%2FREVIEWS%2F709130305%2F1023 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Kenny">{{cite journal | last=Kenny | first=Glenn | url=http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/The-Fountain | title=The Fountain | journal=[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]] | date=November 22, 2006 | access-date=December 4, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118033252/http://www.premiere.com/Review/Movies/The-Fountain | archive-date=November 18, 2010 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="mcfc">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fountain | title=Fountain, The | website=Metacritic | access-date=December 4, 2009 | archive-date=June 28, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628185000/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/fountain | url-status=live }}</ref>