The word coming out of the UK today is that director Brett Ratner is no longer on board to helm the upcoming "Conan" not-a-remake. Producer Joe Gatta (who is also producing the "Conan"-spinoff "Red Sonja") revealed the news in an interview with Empire, posted today.
"We’re currently in the process of hiring a director," he told the magazine. "For the past six months we were discussing the movie with Brett Ratner, and for more timing issues than anything else we had to part ways with Brett. We all wanted him to do it, believe me; just the timing didn’t work. But you never know what can happen."
While that's a pretty wishy-washy comment at the end there, for now at least it looks like Ratner is out. "X-Men" fans who are looking forward to a new take on "Conan" are probably breathing a sigh of relief right about now.
Gatta went on to say that "Conan" is still in production, with a planned August 24 start date for the on-location shoot in Bulgaria. No word yet on which actor will wield the muscled barbarian's sword, but Gatta goes on to say that the search will begin in earnest once a director has been secured.
What's your take on this "Conan" not-remake? Is it a worthwhile pursuit? Do you think the project will fare better or worse without Ratner at the helm?
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