Brett Ratner helming Conan? Not so fast

If you were happy – or terrified - to hear that Brett Ratner would be directing the new Conan pic, then prepare to be disappointed. Or delighted.

Speaking to the LA Times , Ratner has revealed that producer Avi Lerner’s recent announcement of a locked deal with the director was a little bit premature.

"Let me make this very clear," he says "I am not doing Conan now. This is totally premature. For now, Conan is only a development deal. I have a deal at Paramount and I'm doing Beverly Hills Cop first, no matter what. Avi shouldn't be telling you or anyone else in the press what I'm doing."

Obstacles

So while Lerner remains convinced that Ratner is the man for the job and that he’ll fight to seal the deal, there are still some issues to work out.

"We still have a few obstacles," admits the producer. "Brett is only committed if we agree on a budget, on how to do the special effects and exactly where we'd shoot the film."

Apparently Lerner wants to use his own studio, in Bulgaria, with some exterior work in China.

We’re betting Ratner’s hedging his bets and holding out for a better deal – he’s got to buy that solid gold Ferrari somehow…