Director Brett Ratner has been confirmed as directing X3 and Maggie Grace as playing Kitty Pryde.
According to Variety Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Entertainment set Brett Ratner on Friday night to replace Matthew Vaughn as the director of "X3," the third installment of the "X-Men" franchise.
Hiring keeps the film on track for an August start date and a Memorial Day weekend 2006 opening date.
Vaughn dropped out less than a week ago. Official reason was that the "Layer Cake" director didn't want to uproot his family, but it appears the exit followed his growing apprehension about taking on such a large assignment in his second outing.
A comicbook enthusiast, Ratner was among the helmers considered to direct the first "X-Men"; the job went to Bryan Singer.
Ratner then spent a full year developing "Superman Returns," the film that ultimately prompted Singer to drop out of directing "X3."
The trade adds that X3's budget is locked, and Fox and Marvel brass consider the script by Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg to be at least as strong as that of the first two installments. The original returning stars have been signed, and the cast is bolstered by Kelsey Grammer, Vinnie Jones and Maggie Grace ("Lost"), who just came aboard as new mutant characters.
Stay tuned to CBM for the latest....