Thursday, October 15

• Brett Ratner Defends X-Men: The Last Stand

  Fans of the X-Men are familiar with the evolution of the trilogy: X-Men was good, X2: X-Men United was terrific, and X-Men: The Last Stand just plain sucked. Last Stand's director, Brett Ratner, has heard all the criticism and is sick of it.

  You can't make these people happy. I'm kind of the anti-Christ to these comic book geeks. Every single person that wrote s**t went to see that movie multiple times because a movie doesn't gross $200 something million unless people go to see it more than once. Every single person who said, "I'm never seeing that movie," they were the first ones there.

  Calling the fan base of your movie "geeks" isn't the most courteous of expressions, but his frustration is somewhat understandable since Last Stand did make $234 million in the U.S. alone and, ultimately, $460 million worldwide. It also cost $210 million to make, so it's not as impressive a profit margin as Ratner would have readers believe. If box office is the sole measure of a movie's success or failure, X2 was more profitable, with Last Stand barely surpassing The X-Men. Not that it matters to Ratner, who still considers his effort a triumph.

  If I buried the franchise how the f**k did they make a Wolverine? I mean, that's ridiculous. And they're making three other f**king X-Men movies. Mine kept the franchise alive!

  X-Men "geeks" will likely disagree with that statement, and could point out that the success of X-Men Origins: Wolverine is keeping the franchise alive. Also, it might be mentioned that Fox has to continue to developing X-Men movies or else the rights revert back to Marvel Entertainment.

  
  

  Posted 10/15/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brett Ratner | X-Men | X2: X-Men United | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | X-Men: The Last Stand

Wednesday, August 5

• Brett Ratner Will Not (Or Maybe Will) Direct Another X-Men

  

  The X-Men franchise was on a real streak until Brett Ratner replaced Bryan Singer for X-Men: The Last Stand. While plenty of X-Men movies are in the works, including a X-Men Origins: Wolverine sequel, a Deadpool spin-off, X-Men: First Class, and possibly X-Men Origins: Magneto, no X-Men 4 has been announced. Singer has hinted at a return to the franchise, while Ratner told MTV that he won't direct another X-Men ... and then quickly ammending that he might:

  The thing with the X-Men universe is, I feel like I've already done it. Certain things I would go after, and certain things only if the script is great.

  First Ratner feels like he's "done it," then he says "only if the script is great." Don't forget, this is the director of all three Rush Hour movies. Clearly, sequels are not an issue:

  I heard a rumor that they were going to do a young X-Men [X-Men: First Class], which would be great. I would love to see a Magneto movie personally, because I love the Holocaust backstory. I'd love to see a Storm movie, too.

  Basically, if you write it, Ratner will make it. So who would Ratner pick to make another X-Men?

  I'd love to see [Steven] Spielberg do it. A Spielberg X-Men movie would be something I'd love to see.

  
  

  Posted 08/05/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brett Ratner | Steven Spielberg | X-Men Origins: Magneto | Rush Hour | Rush Hour 3 | X-Men: The Last Stand | X-Men: First Class | Rush Hour 2 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thursday, March 19

• Brett Ratner May Never Get a Comic Book Franchise

  X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner wants to keep working with comic book adaptations, but may never get his chance. Ratner told MTV:

  I was so upset when I left Superman [Bryan] Singer has his X-Men, [Christopher] Nolan has Batman -- there's nothing left. Hulk has been exploited already. There's nothing left for me.

  Ratner originally left the Superman adaptation because he could not find a suitable actor to play the Man of Steel. Ratner's Superman script, written by J.J. Abrams, "took place on Krypton for about half of the movie," and was "darker, because there was a civil war on Krypton," according to Ratner. He then turned to the highly criticized X-Men: The Last Stand, which Singer had ironically left to direct Superman Returns.

  Is there a franchise Ratner wouldn't have touched? Yes, Iron Man. "I wouldn't have been interested in Iron Man. I have a lot of respect for [Jon Favreau] because, to me, it was a B-character.... But look what he did."

  Ratner still has a chance for a comic book franchise, just not a traditional, super hero one. The director, hard at work possibly killing off another franchise with Beverly Hills Cop 4, is close to officially signing on to direct a Conan reboot.

  
  

  Posted 03/19/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brett Ratner | Bryan Singer | Jon Favreau | Christopher Nolan | J.J. Abrams | Iron Man | Superman Returns | X-Men: The Last Stand | Beverly Hills Cop IV

Monday, February 9

• Brett Ratner to Direct Liefeld's Youngblood

  Back in the comics boom of the early 90's, a new publishing company came about from a bunch of upstart Marvel artists. One of those rebels was a young Rob Liefeld, who developed his comic Youngblood -- which, at the time of its release, was the best-selling independent comic book ever.

  Fast forward in time to the current fanatical interest Hollywood has for comic book movies, and we find out that Reliance Big Entertainment has aquired the rights to make the movie, and X3's helmer Brett Ratner is attached to direct.

  Most fans fear this is a bad omen, crediting Ratner for ruining the X franchise.

  As for the director's thoughts, we only have the comment he gave to Variety...

  Most of the great graphic novels are gone, and 'Youngblood' is one of the few comicbooks left.

  We wonder what he's smoking, since there are literally hundreds of comics and graphic novels yet to be looked at that are potential film fodder. Maybe he really means that this is the only comic book movie that he'll be allowed to get his hands on again.

  
  

  Posted 02/09/2009 by Jim

  Related: Brett Ratner | Youngblood

Friday, February 1

• Who will direct The Wolf Man?

  On the heels of director Mark Romanek's contentious departure from The Wolf Man, Universal is scrambling to find a replacement to helm the big-budget horror flick. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the short list of directors includes Frank Darabont (The Mist), James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma), Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III), Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 3). Ratner is the odds-on favorite, having already served as an effective pinch-hitter on X-Men: The Last Stand, after director Matthew Vaughn departed the production weeks before shooting was set to begin.

  Will Ratner be able to take time out of his famously busy party schedule to play second fiddle once again? We'll keep you posted.

  Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  
  

  Posted 02/01/2008 by reelz

  Related: Brett Ratner | The Wolf Man

Thursday, September 20

• Movie news: Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner to reteam for Sinatra biopic

  Rush Hour director Brett Ratner and star Chris Tucker are set to collaborate again--but this time without pal Jackie Chan.

  The two are putting together an adaptation of Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra, a tell-all book by writer William Stadiem and Sinatra valet George Jacobs. Tucker, who hasn't worked for anyone but Ratner in years, will play Jacobs, who worked for Sinatra during the height of the Rat Pack era.

  Perhaps Jackie Chan can play Sinatra?

  Source: Variety.

  
  
  

  Rush Hour 10 and Playboy Parties

  Brett Ratner tells all to Heather Huntington.

  Posted 09/20/2007 by reelz

  Related: Brett Ratner | Chris Tucker | Mr S: My Life with Frank Sinatra

Friday, July 13

• Funnies and bunnies

  MTV News is reporting that Harry Potter producer David Heyman revealed plans to do Yes Man, another new movie with Jim Carrey. Peyton Reed (The Break-Up) will be directing, says The Hollywood Reporter.

  The comedy, based  on a memoir by Danny Wallace, will be about a down-and-out guy who decides to turn his life around by saying 'Yes' to everything. It will be a return to old-school Carrey humor, says Heyman. This is in addition to the FIVE other projects Carrey has on the horizon.

  MTV is also reporting that several female stars  have been added to the roster of the yet-to-be-named upcoming Adam Sandler comedy about a Playboy bunny who gets kicked out of Hef's mansion and has to move into an uncool UCLA sorority. Sandler et al. just added American Idol loser Katherine McPhee and Bruce Willis' and Demi Moore's daughter Rumer Willis to the cast. McPhee will play a "pregnant hippie" and the young Willis will play a "sorority loser."

  And speaking of the great robed one, The Guardian is reporting that Leonardo DiCaprio is in talks to star in a Hugh Heffner biopic. The drama, entitled Playboy, will be directed by Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand).

  DiCaprio must be a fan of playing guys with 'Hugh' somewhere in their name.

  
  

  Posted 07/13/2007 by reelz

  Related: Adam Sandler | Anna Faris | Brett Ratner | David Heyman | Leonardo DiCaprio | Rumer Willis | Jim Carrey | Playboy | Yes Man | The House Bunny