Darren Aronofsky to develop, direct 'Machine Man'

LOS ANGELES - Darren Aronofsky is filling out his dance card in the wake of the buzz he is generating from his upcoming feature film, "Black Swan."

While he waits for his deal to close to direct "Wolverine 2," the filmmaker has signed on to develop and direct "Machine Man" for Mandalay Pictures.

Described by the production company as an "amped up pop-thriller," the story centers on a gadget geek and engineer at a tech firm.

The man decides to replace his weak, fleshy parts with high-end titanium performance upgrades of his own design but then discovers other entities have designs on him.

The project is based on a partial manuscript by Max Barry. Aronofsky's "Swan" co-writer Mark Heyman is adapting it for the big screen. The hope is to make "Machine" after Aronofsky shoots "Wolverine 2."

In the meantime, Barry is publishing one page per day in real time as an online serial, with the whole story to be published as a novel by Vintage Books next spring.

"Machine" will be Heyman and Aronofsky's third collaboration. The duo first worked together on 2008's "The Wrestler," which earned Oscar nominations for the film's stars, Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei.

"Black Swan," starring Natalie Portmhan, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September. It is slated to hit U.S. theaters in December through Fox Searchlight.