Brett Ratner will Direct "Conan"

Director Brett Ratner (Red Dragon, Rush Hour) has been trying to make a decision whether to helm a fourth installment of "Beverly Hills Cop" or take on the "Conan" franchise. He has now made up his mind and "Conan" is the film Ratner will direct.

Ratner was attracted to the "Conan" script by Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean Donnelly (Sahara), who looked to Robert E. Howard's original pulp stories of the 1930s to create their take on the character. The writers are doing a quick polish to incorporate some of Ratner's ideas.

Millennium and Lionsgate are eyeing a potential franchise and envision a very R-rated approach in the $85 million budget range. Preproduction is under way for a shoot at Nu Image's Nu Boyana Studio in Bulgaria.

"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," said Millennium's Avi Lerner. "This is a coup for Millennium Films and proves that our choice of projects and material is attracting much higher-profile directors and actors."

Ratner is currently in final negotiations to helm "Conan," which is aiming to hit theaters in early 2010.

Is anyone happy that Ratner will take over the "Conan" franchise?