Just last week, we brought you the news that Darren Aronofsky was in active negotiations with 20th Century Fox to put him in the director’s chair for X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2. Aronofsky had reportedly passed on helming Tales from the Gangster Squad, as 20th Century Fox has offered him a $5 million paycheck against 5% of the grosses to helm X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 instead.

At the time, 20th Century Fox had yet to close the deal with the director. Now, Deadline reports that the deal with Aronofsky has gotten so far along that they have begun planning to shoot the sound-stage portions in New York so that Aronofsky and Hugh Jackman don’t have to inconvenience their families. Once the shooting in New York has been completed, the production will move to Japan for the bulk of filming.

Shooting on X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 is scheduled to begin next March, which would allow Aronofsky availability to participate in awards season and press obligations for his film Black Swan, which opens on December 3rd.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 is slated to hit theaters in 2012.