Aronofsky and Jolie looking at Serena

Darren Aronofsky and Angelina Jolie are circling around Serena: A Novel like vultures, looking to develop a big screen version of the 2008 book written by Ron Rash. In typical fashion, Aronofsky would helm the picture with Jolie in the starring role. Alexander and K-19: The Windowmaker scribe Christopher Kyle penned the script for the adaptation.

Set in the rugged mountains of 1929 North Carolina, “Serena” follows a man named George Pemberton and his new bride, Serena, as they create a timber empire. Serena not only takes to the woods, but she also pushes her husband to commit more and more ruthless acts. When she learns she cannot bear a child, Serena sets out to murder the son her husband fathered illegitimately (THR).

Nick Wechsler is producing the picture with no set release date at the moment, since the project is still knee deep in pre-production. Jolie is in the middle of filming the Florian Henckel von Donnersmark feature The Tourist which is poised to come out sometime in 2011.