Director Rumor Hit With Kryptonite

Despite several Internet reports, Warner Bros. says director Brett Ratner is still helming the Superman 5 movie project.

Michael Bay (Armageddon) was said to have been tapped and then turned down the job. "This is 100% false," Bay told Variety. "I haven't spoken to anybody at Warner Bros. about Superman. I have no idea how this rumor got started. Isn't Brett doing Superman?"

Yes, says Ratner, who says he’s still getting paid for the job. "This is the most ridiculous rumor I've ever heard, and it starts with Web sites that have gone from supportive cinephiles to [being] gossip mongers," Ratner said. "The studio is spending multiple millions of dollars making test deals with the actors I want.

"The whole hiccup here has been our search for Superman," he said. What about the rumor that film is budgeted to cost $200 million, with WB insisting that it not exceed $180 million? "North of $200 million is a lie, we won't have a budget for three weeks," said Ratner.

Finding Superman has been hard because Ratner’s choices don’t want to sign long-term contracts. "No star wants to sign that, but as much as I've told Jude [Law] and Josh [Hartnett] my vision for the movie, I've warned them of the consequences of being Superman. They'll live this character for 10 years because I'm telling one story over three movies and plan to direct all three if the first is as successful as everyone suspects."