Crowe made sandal pact

Russell Crowe was promised "no sandals" during the filming of Noah.

The actor takes on the role of the biblical character in the adventure movie, which is due for release in March next year.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, who is also behind 2010's disturbing thriller Black Swan, the film promises to break the rules.

"I don't think this going to fit with anyone's imagined version of Noah," Russell mused to Empire magazine.

"When Darren first called me up he said, 'Look, I'm going to tell you the title of the project I need you to do with me. I don't want you to say anything. Then I'm going to make two promises and then we're going to talk about it.'

"He told me the title, then he said, 'These are my two promises: one, you won't be required to wear sandals; and two, never at any stage will you be obligated to stand at the bow of a boat flanked by a giraffe and an elephant.'"

In order to depict the story of the great flood, plenty of water was used during shooting.

Luckily 49-year-old Russell found a way to deal with the wet conditions on set.

"It's a bit of the old Chinese water torture right now," he confessed.

"But the thing I do before every take is look out, watch the rain come on like watery fireworks, and accept the beauty of it. When you're underneath it, the way the light shines through it, it is beautiful."

Noah also stars Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly.