Movie News

Rush Hour Director Takes on X-Men 3

Variety says Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour") will direct "X-Men 3." The hiring of Ratner concludes a merry-go-round of directors.

At times, the "X-Men 3" directing debacle has resembled Spinal Tap's drummer roster. Early on, "X-Men 3" was going to be directed by Bryan Singer, the man behind the first two "X-Men" films. Concurrently, Brett Ratner was prepping the long-delayed "Superman" movie. But things quickly fell apart. Ratner left "Superman" and was replaced by "Charlie's Angels" director McG. But McG didn't last long and he was soon replaced by Singer. Singer's "Superman" jump left 20th Century Fox in an "X-Men" lurch. Eventually, "Layer Cake" director Matthew Vaughn was hired to take on "X-Men 3," and for a while all seemed to be right with the world. But the calm was deceiving. Vaughn recently left "X-Men 3" and now Ratner has come in to take Vaughn's spot. Got it?

In the end, all of this Hollywood hoo-ha concluded with Ratner and Singer switching jobs. Ratner is filming "X-Men 3" and Singer is filming "Superman." Now let's hope it stays that way.

Variety says Ratner's quick hiring will keep the production on track for an August start date and a May 2006 release.

In other "X-Men" news, Kelsey Grammar has signed to play blue-haired genius Beast, while Vinnie Jones has been cast as Juggernaut and Maggie Grace from "Lost" will play Shadowcat.

For more "X-Men" news visit our "X-Men" spotlight page. -- Mac Slocum

---

Tags:

---

Posted by Mac on June 6, 2005 10:14 AM
Permalink | Email to a Friend | Add to del.icio.us | Digg This





More Recent Stories:
• Zellweger and Connick in Talks to Work Together
• Ice Cube making a "Comeback"
• Jessica Alba joins "Love Guru"
• "Watchmen" Makes it to Casting
• John Leguizamo to team up with Shyamalan
• Robert De Niro Making a Movie about Mao Zedong
• Christopher Walken Has "Balls of Fury"
• Nicole Kidman has a New Project in the Works
• Jim Carrey to Star in "A Christmas Carol"
• Ryan Gosling to Join "The Lovely Bones"