Brett The Barbarian

Brett Ratner is in final negotiations to direct the remake of "Conan the Barbarian" called simply Conan says The Hollywood Reporter-- the first in what the studio hopes to be a long-running franchise...



At the same time Rarner will also move forward on Beverly Hills Cop IV

Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean Donnelly's story is closer to the character as ceated by Texan writer Robert E. Howard for 1930's pulp fiction stories about the famous warrior than the previous two 1980's films. The duo are now doing a polish to include some last minute ideas from Ratner.

Producer Avi Lerner:

"The story opens on the battlefield where Conan is born and tells the origin story that sets the stage for what will be the first of multiple films."

Ratner intends to keep the "very R-rated approach" of the material,-- an early 2010 release is planned.

Ratner has his detractors--of which I am not--per se--Handling two big franchises might be a bit of a stretch though.