Ratner And The Rat Pack

Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner (both pictured) must really like working together--as they are about to do it again--for the 5th time.



Tatiana Siegel of Variety

...[The duo] are set to reteam with New Line.

The studio has optioned the rights to the book "Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra," with Ratner attached to direct and produce and Tucker eyeing the starring role of Sinatra valet George Jacobs.

Book, a dishy tell-all penned by Jacobs and William Stadiem, was first published by HarperCollins in 2003. It offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of Sinatra and the Rat Pack

Stadiem, a longtime chronicler of old Hollywood, has been tapped to write the screenplay, which weaves in celebrity anecdotes involving Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, the Kennedys, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Mia Farrow, Elvis Presley, Swifty Lazar and Marlene Dietrich, among others.

Rat Entertainment's Jay Stern also will produce alongside Adam Fields ("Donnie Darko").

"It's like a love story between two very unlikely people," Stadiem said. "Brett is a Rat Pack obsessive, and so it's fun to work with someone so passionate about the period. I think he's channeling Frank sometimes."

Tucker met with Jacobs in the summer and bonded with the Zelig-like figure, who worked for Sinatra from 1953-68.

Ratner has a first-look deal at New Line, the studio that produced his feature directorial debut, "Money Talks" -- which starred Tucker -- as well as the "Rush Hour" trilogy and "After the Sunset."

In recent years, Tucker has worked nearly exclusively with Ratner. He is currently prepping a stand up comedy tour.

This is Ratner's second biopic in the pipeline. The man with a reputation as a party boy is really trying to step away from the "fluff" and go "legit" It will be interesting to see what the end result will be.