Director Rumor

[narrows101]

Personally I don't believe this is true but here it is. Hugh is in the middle of pre-production for Australia, but I wish he would give an update.

http://www.3www.cinematical.com/2007/03/30/british-newspaper-says-brett-ratner-directing-wolverine/

British Newspaper Says Brett Ratner Directing 'Wolverine'
Posted Mar 30th 2007 2:31PM by Erik Davis

You can call it an accidental slip-up by a writer who wasn't aware of the fact that Brett Ratner wasn't officially signed on to Wolverine yet, or we could be looking at some actual news here. Either way, I'm not very excited. While spitting out a number of comic-related films currently in development, a writer for the Telegraph noted that the much-anticipated Wolverine spin-off flick will indeed be directed by Brett Ratner. Only problem is we had no idea he was attached to the project. Sure, there's been speculation ever since Ratner helmed X-Men: The Last Stand -- but so far the pic has not showed up on his future film slate; right now, he's wrapping up Rush Hour 3 (due in theaters later this summer) and in pre-production on an untitled comedy featuring Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock.

With filming apparently set to begin this fall (we think?), chances are Ratner will make Wolverine his next pic ... regardless of whether fans think the dude is a craptastic director and, like, totally not worthy. Last we heard on the Wolverine front, Hugh Jackman was officially locked in to star, and a script (penned by David Benioff) was all but complete. A few characters rumored to appear in the film include William Stryker (Brian Cox) and Kenuichio Harada/Silver Samurai (Ken Watanabe?). Other than that, everyone involved has been keeping real quiet. Of course, when things are quiet, fans immediately question whether the project is still moving forward. Is Ratner stalling? Are they looking for a new director? Has Bryan Singer kidnapped Jackman? If you had the power to make decisions -- and keep in mind there's no way Singer will be able to fit this film into his schedule if he still intends on making that Superman sequel -- who would you choose to direct Wolverine?

 

[Neto Magnus]

and so it begins.

 

[danoyse]

Eh...they got that from a British newspaper who looks like they got all their info from message boards like this or IMDB, I wouldn't put too much into that. Keep in mind they were also reporting that Emma Watson had quit the Harry Potter movies last week, when she didn't.

Wouldn't it be a great episode of Punk'd if Hugh told Brett had the job when he didn't? Revenge!! t:

 

[BMM]

Meh, I don't think there's any need to get worked up over this. I don't think anybody knows anything yet. It's just the usual speculation... and of course people would question Ratner's involvement with the film since he directed the last X-Men film.

 

[_BB_]

Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true, Its not true.

There.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Guys Ratner is a good director. He was given X3 at the very last minute with little time to compose himself and direct a massive movie with everyone personally attacking him. Fox also ordered the writers Simon and Zak...to tie up all of Bryan Singers loose ends and to close certain things out. The same Bryan Singer who abandoned his contract basically by making sure he was unavailable to make X3 when he new the studio was prepping to greenlight it and then without talking to Rothman/Fox just signing for Superman. Ratner did well with that. His Rush Hour films are very entertaining and honestly X3 was more entertaining than the first 2. It wasn't as meating or plodding as X3 but it was fun. Now imagine he had time and not worry about stepping on what another director did. Ratner is given to much BS by some of you it's like a lynch mom mentality that starts without actually anyone thinking about it.

 

[Big Jerm]

I think X3 was a great film so all power to ya Ratman!

 

[Advanced Dark]

Is Ratner my top choice for Wolverine. Nope but I'm happy with him there. He can handle it fine whether it's a dark film, a popcorn film, a thriller, or a comedy action film. His films are slick and are mostly successful to the nth degree. I'd prefer him to direct Shang Chi or Iron Fist personally.

 

[gap5ewl]

ohh god please don't let this be true

 

[AssMan]

Great this is just what the hype needs right now if this is true. Ratner & Fox bashing Round 2. The bashing from The Last Stand is still going strong we do not need two movies with the same type of bashing The Last Stand got & is still getting. One is enough

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I really hope it's true. But it's not going to happen. You think Hugh is dumb enough to allow Ratner to mess up Wolverine the way he messed up X3?

 

[X-Maniac]

I really hope it's true.

Are you sure you meant to say that!? t:

 

[flavio_lebeau]

It seems this forum might start to heat up. And OMG, there are people who think Ratner is actually good.

 

[_BB_]

Its not true damnit. This is the daily telegraph, a newspaper, newpapers are full of crap! Theres only rumour of Brett being attached to this movie just like there was rumour of Singer doing it too and a few other directors for that matter.

He's a journalist. I refuse to believe anything these crappy papers write.

The only people I will believe on this matter are Hugh Jackman and the studio itself.

 

[flavio_lebeau]

It's not true. It can't be. Fox went running to Singer after X3, that must mean something. They MUST have got a clue about Ratner. If it's any indication, they don't want Ratner again too.

 

[danoyse]

Nah, it's just gossip. Just read the article. They think it's starting soon, they think it's starring them. I don't think they even know that Hugh's off filming Australia for the next few months, since they're questioning his whereabouts as well.

 

[04nbod]

oh dear- i hope this isn't true

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Are you sure you meant to say that!? t:

It was a form of sarcasm. I want Ratner to do this film so the already overexposed Wolverine can be ruined. I was also looking for some panic from the hardcore Hugh Jackman fans who love Logan and only Logan, and deny the importance of the other X-Men characters.

So in a sense I was hoping Ratner would direct it so Wolverine can be a watered down 1 hour and 30 minute film with no plot, no character development, and corny one liners.

 

[Advanced Dark]

I really hope it's true. But it's not going to happen. You think Hugh is dumb enough to allow Ratner to mess up Wolverine the way he messed up X3?

Please tell us all how "Ratner" specifically messed up X3. I want you to specifically tell me and the rest of the board what "he" did to mess up the film. Forget the fact that I enjoyed it as did most people outside the walls of comic book message board fanboys.

How did "he" mess it up??? Keep in mind the script was not written by him and he took over when...3 weeks before filming started. As far as the "directing" he did an outstanding job.

If you didn't like it you might want to point the finger at twinkle toes who abandoned the project screwing over Fox and any fans who specifically enjoyed his work...not to mention the fact he took his writers with him too with no notice when he knew Fox was prepping to start X3.

 

[danoyse]

It was a form of sarcasm. I want Ratner to do this film so the already overexposed Wolverine can be ruined. I was also looking for some panic from the hardcore Hugh Jackman fans who love Logan and only Logan, and deny the importance of the other X-Men characters.

Are you making up accusations again? Those people only exist in your sad, obsessed little mind, not on these boards. Remember what happened last time you went on one of these rants.

You also might want to be careful what you wish for. A flop Wolverine movie will probably also mean no more X-Men movies for a long time. And they don't churn out do-overs and restarts that easily.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Please tell us all how "Ratner" specifically messed up X3. I want you to specifically tell me and the rest of the board what "he" did to mess up the film. Forget the fact that I enjoyed it as did most people outside the walls of comic book message board fanboys.

How did "he" mess it up??? Keep in mind the script was not written by him and he took over when...3 weeks before filming started. As far as the "directing" he did an outstanding job.

If you didn't like it you might want to point the finger at twinkle toes who abandoned the project screwing over Fox and any fans who specifically enjoyed his work...not to mention the fact he took his writers with him too with no notice when he knew Fox was prepping to start X3.

Okay, I'll explain it. First and foremost, it's his inability to pay attention to detail that ultimately ruined the story from an emotional and intelligent standpoint. While it's true he didn't write the script, he did call for certain changes within the script and that much has already been admitted.

Now in terms of directing? There was really nothing mind blowing about it really. Just the usual camera work that Ratner is known for. Nothing spectacular, nothing innovative, and nothing that captured the visual perspective the X-Men. I just feel Ratner wanted more action instead of a story and his ADD is one of the main reasons why he should've been kept away from the film.

As I said before maybe if he spent less time dressing up like Logan and concentrated on directing then perhaps it would've been different. I also like to add that he used Youtube for the famous Juggernaut line. Seriously, out of all the things to use for inspiration, he decides to use a very corny stupid line that was meant as a joke in the first place? It's those decisions he made that ultimately ruined the seriousness of the story. I'm not saying he's the worst director in the world, but he's not a director who should be tackling big epic stories like an X-Men or even a Wolverine.

As much as I hate how overexposed Wolverine is, I sincerely hope Hugh isn't dumb enough to hire ADD boy for this project.

As far as blaming Singer is concerned? Everyone has their beliefs on what happened between him and Fox. My belief? They didn't give him the necessary trust to complete the story his way and they gave him the runaround. It's not like he left while under contract, he left while he wasn't under contract and it was Fox's fault for not signing him to three films.

Sony signed Raimi for three Spider-Man films, WB signed Nolan for three Batman films, New Line Cinema signed Peter Jackson for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and etc. Those studios put enough trust in their directors to sign them to three films before the success of the first film.

So as I said, many have different opinions on the Singer/Fox situation. That's something that I truly believe happened and I blame Fox more than I blame Singer.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Are you making up accusations again? Those people only exist in your sad, obsessed little mind, not on these boards. Remember what happened last time you went on one of these rants.

You also might want to be careful what you wish for. A flop Wolverine movie will probably also mean no more X-Men movies for a long time. And they don't churn out do-overs and restarts that easily.

No, if the Wolverine film flops it'll show Fox that it's not all about Wolverine and that there's more to the X-Men than Wolverine. I can pretty much guarantee you that the Wolverine film and Magneto film will not do good at all.

Wolverine and Magneto aren't Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, or Harry Potter(not the a comic book hero I know).

 

[danoyse]

No, if the Wolverine film flops it'll show Fox that it's not all about Wolverine and that there's more to the X-Men than Wolverine. I can pretty much guarantee you that the Wolverine film and Magneto film will not do good at all.

Wolverine and Magneto aren't Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, or Harry Potter(not the a comic book hero I know).

I think everyone knows that. No one's expecting a movie on that scale with Wolverine. I doubt anyone's projecting a movie that big.

Hell, the reason they're doing a spinoff in the first place is to have a smaller-budget movie with a better chance of making a profit. And Hugh's said in interviews he wants to have an independent film-type feel, not a big-scale special effects thing.

 

[AssMan]

The reason they're doing a spinoff in the first place

Is so FOX can keep the X-Men rights & just do cheaper solo movies so no other studio can buy the X-Men rights & FOX can just call it quits on expensive team movies.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Lets not let the X3 hate slip into these boards... Ratner is a decent choice... Red Dragon was decent and the Rush Hour were entertaining... not the best choice... but it will suffice