With LAYER CAKE director Matthew Vaughn leaving the project, Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Ent. have hired RUSH HOUR director Brett Ratner to direct X-MEN 3, reports VARIETY. The film is still set to begin filming in August and hit theaters Memorial Day weekend 2006.
In addition, the studios have also confirmed that Kelsey Grammer (TV's FRAISER) will be playing Beast, Vinnie Jones (SNATCH) will be playing Juggernaut and Maggie Grace (TV's LOST) will be playing Kitty Pryde.
In an interesting trivia note, Ratner was developing SUPERMAN RETURNS for a year before leaving that project, which is the project X-MEN director Bryan Singer left X3 to direct.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
