Update on SUPERMAN!

Hey folks, Harry here... Currently... the official word is that Brett Ratner is going to direct SUPERMAN - that's what the front desk says. I understand that several other sites have called and talked to the front desk and I'm sure they're being told the same thing that I've heard about how the rumors are false and we're so very happy with Mr Ratner and yadeedaaah...

However, a couple of weeks ago at NYU, Brett Ratner showed up to speak and show a reel of his student films, and when asked what his next film would be--- he said he was working with Jeff Nathanson on the script for RUSH HOUR 3 and that he'd like to be shooting by the end of the summer to mid-Fall. (Thanks "!!") This, of course, would mean that Ratner would be otherwise occupied and unable to start production on Warners' SUPER-franchise.

Meanwhile, my bug inside Alan's Horn tells me that officially they'll be telling everyone that Ratner is directing till they MAKE Michael Bay's deal, which isn't finished.

In addition to the all of this, the unofficial word inside Warner Brothers -- meaning the people in the studio that don't answer the phones and identify themselves as Studio Publicists, which are the folks that tend to answer most 'website' official inquiries... well the word from inside is that when RED DRAGON didn't do crazy HANNIBAL box-office numbers as they were expecting, the top brass had been regretting their decision. Especially since Ratner's attitude about the project has been to TELL people he's directing it, with great enthusiasm, but doing very little about making it special. And also, Ratner began exhibiting insecurity lil dick issues about opening the same summer as AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and possibly being shown up... greatly.

With Ratner fretting, Jeff Robinov began to re-examine the situation and find a visually ambitious director with a penchant for action filmmaking. Specifically, from what I hear, Robinov wanted "...someone who can inject both stylish eye-candy and manipulative emotion to deliver the ultimate post 9/11 flag-waving patriotic superhero movie." And to that end, Michael Bay represents his perfect propagandist and film auteur.

Now, today there was an interesting extra piece of the puzzle that came in, and that is that Michael Bay owed and was indebted to Joel Silver, when Joel allowed Michael to use the title ARMAGEDDON for his sky-is-falling pic... and was tied to making a film for Joel. Knowing this, Joel came to Warners with the ability to bring Michael to the project, and will be coming on board SUPERMAN as Producer... meaning that he'll be producing the film along with Jon Peters. Which is very fitting, given that Lorenzo first gave Jon Peters the go ahead to produce a new feature film version of Superman in the presence of Joel Silver... Oh what a wicked web.

What I'm hearing is that all of this is coming together very quickly. That NEW LINE and Ratner are quite close to announcing that RUSH HOUR 3 will go into production this year, and WARNERS wants zero lag in announcing that Michael Bay will be replacing Ratner - and it looks like they want to time it so that at the same time they can announce their pick for the big blue bird.

Now that's a ton of behind the scenes stuff... and is what is going on, whether anyone is willing to admit it at the moment or not. Personally I really do believe this is for the best. Joel Silver has proven himself with the MATRIX films and how he's taken the mantle of being THE MAN to protect the Wachowski's and their property from ignorant stupidity via execs, fans and media... and has become one of THE most visible producers of jaw-dropping films - completely reinventing himself. HURRAH FOR HIM! Silver will keep Peters in-line. Bay will deliver visuals on SUPERMAN the likes we've never seen... and J.J. Abrams is currently at work on what I'm told is the final draft (wink wink) of the project - and the word is that much of what was being fretted about - has been fixed. Personally - this is all very good news for the last son of Krypton and for us.

Of course - as I said yesterday - this story is very much liquid and changing and moving. There's an immense amount of political studio 'bs' that is at stake and with the recent AOL/TIME/WARNER shakeups - well... Shit happens.