Darren Aronofsky clearing schedule for Wolverine 2?

Deadline reports that Darren Aronofsky has dropped out of directing “Gangster Squad” for Warner Bros., making it more likely he’ll soon be announced as the director of Hugh Jackman’s “Wolverine 2″ film.   According to Deadline, it’s now a matter of making the financial deal work.

The second “Wolverine” film will star Jackman and is expected to be set in Japan, and somewhat based on the Chris Claremont-Frank Miller miniseries featuring the Wolverine character.  Aronofsky, who directed “The Wrestler” and the upcoming “Black Swan” is a very interesting choice for the character.  It’s not his first flirtation with a comics film — he was rumored as a “Superman” candidate for the directorial slot that recently went to Zack Snyder, and he was reported to have been developing a “Batman” film with Miller prior to Christopher Nolan helming “Batman Begins.”

- Matt Price