I really wanted to avoid writing about this shit until we had more solid confirmation, and I guess this is good enough; Brett Ratner is not only in talks to take over The Wolfman after original director Mark Romanek’s hasty departure (“Romanek Off Wolfman” – January 2008), but he’s actually the strongest contender according to The Hollywood Reporter
Feel free to punch the person sitting next to you in frustration, though you might want to wait; it gets worse.
Seems the main reason Ratner is so close to leading the film down a path that will almost certainly mean disaster is because he’s the only one Universal has talked to who’s not terribly concerned with putting his own stamp on the remake, something that’s not possible because of the writers' strike. That, and he has a reputation for stepping in and taking over projects last-minute (X-Men: The Last Stand being the most recent example).
Producer/star Benicio del Toro will hopefully have a say in this and prevent Ratner from getting the job; it is del Toro’s baby after all. The scariest part is that directors like Frank Darabont, James Mangold (Identity) and Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) have also had meetings with Uni about the job, but Ratner is still in the lead.
All we can do now is hope for the best...
Hope someone at least decent gets the gig in the Dread Central forums!
Submitted by Johnny Butane on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 8:08am.
Worst news of the year.
Submitted by Sirand on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 5:46pm.
I say delay the shoot. Hire a GOOD director, a Darabont or whoever, and while they can't change the script, let them make their own movie visually. If you get Ratner, you know that he's just going to do his half ass version of shooting Romanek's shot list/storyboards, and that would SUCK.
The best news I've read since Romanek left is that Del Toro *probably* has veto power, and I doubt that he would approve of Ratner.
Submitted by G.D. on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 5:13pm.
I truly hope this is not the man sitting in the chair at the end of the day. I'm starting to believe that the curse of the wolf applies to the movie productions themselves and not just the characters in the movies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Submitted by American Werewolf on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 3:00pm.
Epic fail.
Submitted by Chainsaw on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 1:00pm.
Never saw his "Red Dragon" movie but if the reviews are anything to judge by Brett Ratner is pretty much the last big-name director I'd have directing a horror movie.
Submitted by Tsotha-lanti on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 12:56pm.
Does this mean Wolfman will have loads of useless cameo characters or just feel totally disjointed?
Submitted by Kryten Syxx on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 11:32am.
Behold the power of Sirand.
Submitted by DW Bostaph Jr on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 9:05am.
Goddamn it!
Darabont's work was immaculate on "The Mist."
They're going with him for his ability to follow rules and abide by their guidelines without argument.
DAMN!
Submitted by Terminal on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 8:21am.