Rush Hour 2 and Red Dragon director Brett Ratner will direct the feature film "re-imagining" of Superman for Warner Bros. The announcement was made by Jeff Robinov, president of domestic production for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Ratner told the Chicago Sun-Times that advances in special effects are a major driving force behind the decision to re-launch the franchise on the silver screen.
Jon Peters (Ali, Batman) will produce from a script by J.J. Abrams, writer of Armageddon and exec. producer of TV’s Alias. The screenplay is based on DC Comics’ classic character, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
There is no word yet on who will don the red cape and blue tights in the title role, definitively portrayed by Christopher Reeve in the original blockbuster trilogy. Nicholas Cage was attached at one point, but as Ratner says in the article, he’s looking for an unknown actor to fill the scarlet boots.
Ratner did mention that he likes Anthony Hopkins for the part of Superman’s father, played by Marlon Brando in the 1978 film. The director also revealed that the proposed Superman vs. Batman flick has been shot down in favor of his project, which will reportedly focus on the superhero’s origins. Filming is slated to start next year for a late 2003 or 2004 release.
