Darren Aronofsky wanted 'Noah' to avoid the cliché of Bible movies.
The 45-year-old filmmaker helmed the forthcoming adaptation of the story of Noah's Ark, which originates in the Book of Genesis, and didn't want to be drawn into the stereotypes which are often displayed in portrayals based on religious scripture.
Talking to collider.com, he said: "I definitely wanted to get away from the cliché Bible movie of setting something with people in robes and sandals, set in Judea. This happened a long time ago, the pre-diluvian world, the pre-flood world, was, in the bible, something very magical and mythical. They talk about angels walking on the planet, they talking about people living for millennium."
Aronofsky filmed scenes for the epic - which has Russell Crowe playing the titular character - in Iceland because it made sense in terms "geological times" since it's relatively "new" land, much like the earth in the original scripture.
He added: "So I knew I wanted to create a different place, a different time. I started thinking about different places around the world and something about Iceland made sense because it's the newest land that's been created. Its literally just come up from the ocean, or relatively in geological times.
"So if you're making something about that happened a long time ago why use ancient earth like Judea, when actually go to Iceland where the earth is probably more connected to how it was a long time ago."

Shakira says the secret to her relationship is to be very "touchy touchy".
The 'Can't Remember to Forget You' singer has been in a relationship with soccer star Gerard Pique for four years and they have a baby son, Milan, 14 months, together, and they keep their romance alive be being very physical with each other.
She told Us Weekly: "We are very honest, no matter what. And we are very touchy touchy. It works for us!
"It took me years to find love, so I don't want to lose him for anything in the world, that's my priority."
Shakira, 37, has previously told how she stopped doing pop videos with sexy men at the behest of her partner.
Speaking about the raunchy clip for 'Can't Remember to Forget You' - in which she stars with Rihanna - Shakira said: "He's very territorial, and since he no longer lets me do videos with men, well, I have to do them with women.
"It's more than implied in our relationship that I can't do videos like I used to. It's out of the question - which I like, by the way.
"I like that he protects his turf and he values me, in a way that the only person he would ever let graze my thigh would be Rihanna."

Jennifer Aniston is going to be "nesting" in 2015.
The 'Wanderlust' star will to taking a break next year after completing her current films - 'Cake', 'Miss You Already' and 'Horrible Bosses 2' - and be planning to finally marry her fiancé, Justin Theroux.
She told People magazine: "There is a lot of work that is happening this year. I'm working and finishing tweaking little bits and pieces of my house [in Los Angeles]. So that's fun. I always love a little construction. I really do. It's exciting. But then its going to stop, and we're just going to live there. 2015 will be nesting, 100 per cent, I've got to take a break."
Jennifer has been renovating her property in Bel Air since buying it in 2012, with a huge overhaul taking place. Her relationship with Justin is also currently long distance, with him working in New York, while she works on movies in California.
She said: "Justin is working on the East Coast right now, and I'm
Working on [the West] coast. It's a real drag ... We're going to try and get a vacation in before we start the next project. It's [a lot of] going back and forth. But we have our house here and he has his apartment there."

Kodaline want to work with Rick Rubin and Pharrell Williams.
The Irish rock band - made up of Steve Garrigan, Jason Boland, Vincent May and Mark Prendergrast - are writing and recording their second album and are looking for a producer to work with.
Guitairst Mark told BANG Showbiz: "Rick Rubin would be amazing! Pharrell would be a lot of fun, he's untouchable, he's king of the world right now.
"It's starting to get serious now [for the band] ... We're in a good place at the moment.
"There are about 15 songs that are there, we're probably going to write and record about another 15 and then pick our favourite 10 or 11 and go into the studio."
Mark insists the band won't be veering away too much from their original sound on 'In a Perfect World' when it comes to their new album but say the recording process will be a lot different.
He explained: "It's obviously going to sound similar. But on our first album, Jay, our bass player, didn't have a lot to do with writing because he wasn't around, we didn't have him yet.
"He's writing some great songs now. So it's the whole influence of having somebody else involved and he'll have a huge impact on the second album. It's probably a lot better."
Meanwhile, the band will release a cover of the Paul McCartney's 'Coming Up' on 7" vinyl for this year's Record Store Day on April 19.
They will also perform at Benicassim in Spain in July and V Festival, along with shows in London, Leeds and Liverpool in coming months.

Cameron Diaz doesn't think cheating should be tolerated.
The 'The Other Woman' star, who recently claimed "everyone will be cheated on," insists she would "walk away" from a relationship if her partner hooked up with someone else and "never look back."
Asked what she thought was the best way to get revenge on a cheater, during a Q&A with fans on PEOPLE magazine's Twitter feed on Thursday (27.03.14), the 41-year-old actress replied: "Walk away, let it go, and never look back."
The blonde beauty, who previously dated Justin Timberlake and Jared Leto, recently claimed she didn't want to make movies about men cheating on women but felt compelled to do so because it had happened to so many of her friends.
She explained: "I didn't make the movie to make a statement. My statement is that I'm actually not interested in making movies about men cheating on women, it's not at all what I am interested in.
"Everybody has been cheated on, everyone will be cheated on. I can't fix that, I don't know how, I don't have any judgement on anybody, I don't know how to fix the problem."
She added: "We are human beings, we are complicated - you cannot go through life without tallying up a few scars, you cannot go through life unscathed, it's just what it is. It's all meant to happen, take your lessons, figure it out, move on."

Orlando Bloom hopes to inspire his son to live his dream.
The 37-year-old actor, who split from his wife of three years Miranda Kerr in October, admits being a father to their three-year-old Flynn is his top priority.
The 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' star told E! News: "I can only hope that I always instil him with all of the ideas of living your dream, of actually understanding that life is a cyclical thing and when you give, you receive."
Orlando participated in the We Day California conference on Wednesday (26.03.14), along with Selena Gomez, Seth Rogen and Magic Johnson, to inspire young people to take action and affect change.
The 'Lord of the Rings' actor has been romantically linked with actresses Margot Robbie, Nora Arnezeder and Condola Rashad since splitting from Australian supermodel Miranda.
Devoted parents, the former couple are regularly spotted together in New York City with their son and previously insisted they would always consider each other "family" and there were no hard feelings.
Miranda said: "We love each other as family, forever."
Orlando also revealed in the past that he tries not to spend too much time away from Flynn.
He said: "I won't spend more than two or three weeks away from him."

Cameron Diaz admires Gwyneth Paltrow for ending her marriage.
The 41-year-old actress says her best pal and estranged husband Chris Martin, who announced their separation on Tuesday (25.03.14) after 10 years of marriage, "worked really hard" to try to save their relationship and thinks they are "very brave" for deciding to split.
The 'The Other Woman' star told E! News at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday (27.03.14): "For both Chris and Gwyneth, I mean they worked really hard. People want them to blow up and it to be ugly, but they're kind, generous, loving people who really care about one another.
"They've made a conscious effort to separate the part of their lives they don't want to live together anymore, and maintain a really beautiful, strong bond as parents and as friends...I think people should really honour that and they should admire it and they should respect it. They've done something really extraordinary, and they've been very brave at presenting that to the public."
Cameron dismissed reports that there is still "some tension" between the former couple, who are currently holidaying in the Bahamas with their children, Apple, nine, and Moses, seven, and insists they are still friends.
She said: "She's doing great. They're doing great."
The blonde beauty added: "Just because they don't want to be a couple together, doesn't mean that they have to hate one another. They are really good friends."

Paul Walker's mother has reportedly reached a custody agreement with the mother of his teenager daughter.
Cheryl Walker was due to appear in court on Thursday (27.03.14) to try to secure guardianship of Meadow Rain Walker, but the hearing was postponed after she and the 15 year old's mother, Rebecca Soteros, resolved their issues.
A source told E! News: "As a result of a family meeting yesterday, an agreement has been made between the parties and attorneys in the case. The good news is that things are getting better for everyone involved."
Meadow, who will inherit her late father's entire $25 million fortune, had been living with Cheryl since August and when Paul passed away in November, Rebecca flew from Hawaii to stay with the pair until things stabilised, but Cheryl reportedly decided to fight for custody because she thought Rebecca was an alcoholic.
The insider added: "Meadow will live with her mother and they will be getting a place [in California] and the agreement does involve both the guardianship and estate issues."
The teenager is said to be "happy" with the agreement and Cheryl "won't gain any control," despite 'The Fast and the Furious' star stating in his will that he wanted his mother to be his daughter's guardian.
Cheryl's lawyer, Bela G. Lugosi, also confirmed: "Parties involved are trying to resolve whatever the issues are so that this matter goes off calendar."

Khloe Kardashian is planning to move into her new home next month.
The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star recently purchased Justin Bieber's house in gated community The Oaks in Calabasas, California but hasn't moved in yet as she wants to completely redecorate the property.
A source told E! News that the sale was only finalised on Thursday (27.03.14), shortly after Justin paid off the $29,000 outstanding lien against the mansion.
The lien was filed by KMD Electric Inc. who claimed the 20-year-old Canadian star owned them for "labour, services, equipment, and or materials."
Khloe has hired famed interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard to help her decorate and has already removed a skateboard ramp that the 'Baby' hitmaker had installed on the property.
The source said: "Khloé is planning renovations and is excited about moving in as soon as she can."
Justin put the house on the market late last year after a number of run-ins with his neighbours, culminating in a raid by the local sheriff's department after the property of one of the singer's neighbours was egged, causing up to $20,000 of damage.
Khloe sold her former marital home in Tarzana, California for $5.49 million to 'The Big Bang Theory' actress Kaley Cuoco and her husband Ryan Sweeting in January, just one month after filing for divorce from Lamar Odom.
Khloe's sister, Kourtney, has also bought a property in the same gated community, meaning they will soon be neighbours.
The famous siblings will spend the summer in The Hamptons, New York filming their new spinoff series, 'Kourtney & Khloe Take The Hamptons.'

Mindy Kaling admits she is "always" trying to lose weight.
The 'Mindy Project' star says there are several things she would like to change about herself, but insists she has no desire to be "skinny."
The 34-year-old actress, who describes herself as a "fluctuating size 10 (UK size 14)," told the April issue of US Vogue magazine: "There's a whole list of things I would probably change about myself. For example, I'm always trying to lose 15 pounds."
But she added: "I never need to be skinny. I don't want to be skinny. I'm constantly in a state of self-improvement, but I don't beat myself up over it."
Despite not being entirely happy with her figure, Mindy believes she takes more fashion risks as a result of her curves.
The Screen Actor's Guild Award-winner explained: "When I'm at my thinnest, I tend to wear things that don't show off my body. But when I'm bigger, I'll go body-con, which comes from a place of 'This is my perimeter, in case you were wondering if I was actually much bigger.' "
The former 'The Office' USA actress added: "It's really tempting not to take chances. But I don't want to be fearful. I don't want my tombstone to say, she hid her imperfections well on the red carpet."

Miley Cyrus has been accused of disappointing a very sick young fan at a special meet-and-greet.
The 'Wrecking Ball' singer reportedly stepped in and agreed to spend time with seven-year-old Miley Hodge, who has terminal bone cancer and has been given a maximum of six-months to live, after the child's family reached out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in a bid to help her meet her favourite celebrity, Justin Bieber, who wasn't available.
But the encounter didn't go well, according to family friend Brandon Deboer, who told gossip website RadarOnline.com: "From what I know, it was not a very good experience for them."
Another insider explained: "The family went to Los Angeles and were put off for nearly a week before they met [Cyrus]. They finally met at the recording studio and from what I understand, Cyrus was more interested in what she was doing in the studio than paying attention to the little girl."
But young Miley's father Bert Hodge insisted they were "grateful for the chance to meet Cyrus in person."
He added: "I think that if she wants to meet 50 celebrities, she deserves that chance. She has fought hard to stay alive. She has beaten the odds, [and] hasn't gave up."
The Hodge family and their friends are still hoping that the little girl will get a chance to meet Justin, 20, and have launched a campaign to get his attention on Twitter, which has already attracted support from P. Diddy, Kelly Osbourne, Mike Tyson and Tara Reid.
Mr Deboer said: "She loves Justin, his music and that he tells her never to give up on her dreams. Her dream is to meet him one day, only she doesn't have many days left."

Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross celebrated their recent engagement at a lavish party on Wednesday night (26.03.14).
The 'Pieces of Me' singer, 29, and the budding actor, who got engaged in Hawaii in January after only six months of dating, were joined by dozens of friends and family members, including the blonde beauty's older sister Jessica Simpson, to toast their upcoming nuptials in Los Angeles.
The party was extra special for the couple as Evan's famous mother, Diana Ross, was also celebrating her 72nd birthday.
Weight Watchers spokesperson Jessica, 33, posed for a photo with Ashlee, who was wearing a bohemian, free-flowing tunic top and a flapper-style feathered headband, and posted it on Instagram with the caption: "Celebrating my best friend and sister @missbananahammock @ashleesimpsonofficial. I love her so much!"
Ashlee later shared an image of her and Evan, 25, kissing at the outdoor soiree on Twitter, writing: "What an amazing engagement party with all of our loved ones! We gettin' married (sic)"
Despite hosting a huge party for their loved ones, Evan recently revealed he would love to elope with Ashlee, who has a five-year-old son, Bronx, with her ex-husband Pete Wentz.
The upcoming 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' star said: "Honestly, we could go and get married right now, wherever. We just want to be married. We're in love.
"This is the most incredible time I could ever think of in my life and I'm young, but the same time, I've lived a different life than most and I can't think of a happier moment."
But he later hinted they were planning a much bigger wedding, as he confirmed his mother was playing a crucial role.
He said: "She's involved in every piece of our wedding [and] engagement party.
"She's involved in all levels of my life. She's one of the most incredible mothers ever."