Director Darren Aronofsky sought to produce "The Fountain" after the release of "Requiem for a Dream" in 2000. In April 2001, he entered negotiations with Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow to direct the then-untitled film with actor Brad Pitt in the lead role. "Requiem for a Dream" was screened for Pitt, and the preliminary script for "The Fountain" persuaded the actor to join the project. Aronofsky prepared for production by traveling with a crew to Central America to consult with Mayan experts and to explore the Mexican ruins of Palenque. The group also visited Tikal, a jungle location featured in the 1977 film "Star Wars". In addition to the trip, the films "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" and "The Holy Mountain" were screened for the crew to inspire it in designing a rainforest set for "The Fountain". In June 2001, actress Cate Blanchett entered talks to join Aronofsky's project. Aronofsky, who wanted the film's actual title to be a secret, gave the project the working title of "The Last Man". Production was postponed to improve the script and to wait for Blanchett, pregnant when she joined, to give birth to her child in December 2001. The start date for production was tentatively set in summer 2002.