X3 - Brett Ratner in, Nightcrawler out

[Magus]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=9892

20th Century Fox and Marvel Entertainment set Brett Ratner on Friday night to replace Matthew Vaughn as the director of X-Men 3, reports Variety. Shooting will start in August for a Memorial Day weekend 2006 opening date.

A comic book enthusiast, Ratner was among the helmers considered to direct the first X-Men. The job went to Bryan Singer instead. Ratner then spent a full year developing Superman Returns, the film that ultimately prompted Singer to drop out of directing "X3."

The trade adds that the "X3" budget is locked, and Fox and Marvel brass consider the script by Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg to be at least as strong as that of the first two installments. The original returning stars have been signed, and the cast is bolstered by Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut and Lost star Maggie Grace as Kitty Pryde (aka Shadowcat).

Fox's hiring of Ratner also means that Rush Hour 3 will most certainly miss New Line's projected fall start and summer 2006 release dates. Ratner directed the first two films in that series and seemed certain to make the third, but Chris Tucker's unwillingness to sign his $20 million deal in timely fashion scotched those plans.

Wow! Can you FEEL the ENTHUSIASM?

Kelsey Grammar and Vinnie Jones are spot-on but Maggie Grace...

[Funk]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

I agree: if Maggie Grace can virtually single-handedly bring down an awesome show like 'Lost', she should have no problem ruining the X-men.

[Ryner]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Wow, Vinnie Jones would make a good Juggernaut.

[Riotsword]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

And Kelsey Grammar has the perfect voice for Beast... although to see him under piles of make-up would be kinda bad...

[Magus]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

And Kelsey Grammar is such a "duh!!" choice for the Beast. It's perfect.

But Brett Ratner?? C'MON. Is there anyone more vanilla than he is?!

[Snarf]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

I am hoping that they do not do Beast in CGI, I think it would ruin it if they did. Kelsey Grammar is kinda big and beefy. I think he could pull it off if he spends the rest of his time in training.

[Riotsword]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Do you know how freakin' huge Beast is supposed to be? I would think that there's nary an actor out there that could physically fill the part.

[Nixon]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Kelsey Grammer as Beast

I HEARTILY ENDORSE THIS EVENT OR PRODUCT!!!

He would be perfect as the voice, and even the real character, if he worked out a little more.

And why on earth do they want shadowcat as a main character? 20 years of X-men and X-calibur comics prove just how lame she is.

[Snarf]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Well, they will have to compensate for the size thing...I mean Wolverine is taller in the movie than what he is in the comic. They could also do the camera effect that they do with Robbie Coltrane in the Harry Potter movies.

[John Mora]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Hank McCoy was already in X2. And he was not Kelsey Grammar. And if Maggie Grace can make me actually feel the littlest bit sorry for ****face on Lost, then imagine the awesome *****iness she can imbue in Kitty Pryde.

So there.

[Ryner]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Gambit. I want Gambit.

[Funk]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

I'm pretty sure Gambit was confirmed.

[Chrono]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Who the hell is Maggie Grace?

[John Mora]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Your **** Queen.

[Snarf]

Re: X3 to be astoundingly average

Hank was seen in X2?? Where? I dont recall seeing anyone that fits his description, blue or not blue.

Also, Kitty Pride has already been in both X Men movies and each time it was played by someone different.

I am looking forward to seeing more interaction with Colossus and if they bring Gambit in, I want to see him and Rogue get frisky. Poo on that Booby Drake crap.