Hey folks, Harry here... Well, Quint has apparently learned from his source that Brett Ratner is currently being talked to about helming RED DRAGON. Personally while I like Ratner, I just think he's a bit glossy to be doing this material. This is as dark as they come, and we've never seen Ratner handle anything remotely like this. Can he do it? Well, it could be the film to get him into a new league of filmmaking... or prove that he should stick to comedies. Well, let's see what happens, he isn't signed yet.
Hey there, Harry... squirts... ladies and gentlemen. The world travelling Crusty Seaman, Quint, here to let you fine folks in on a deep dark secret. Remember back a couple of weeks ago when I found out about Michael Bay and Nick Cage being offered Red Dragon?
Well, it seems that Bay is now out of the running. According to my source, the studio still wants Nick Cage in the movie and are now "talking to" another director that has worked with Cage in the recent past, Brett Ratner. Yes, Brett "Family Man" Ratner.
Does this mean Ratner's going to direct the film? Nope. Does this mean Ratner COULD potentially direct this film? Yes, it does. There is no paper signed (that I know of), but according to my guy/girl/creature on the inside, talks are going on between Ratner and Universal/MGM right now.
How does this bode for the film? I have nothing against Ratner as a person. I've never met him, but I'm sure he's a nice guy. I also have nothing against him as a filmmaker, necessarily. Rush Hour was fun. But him doing Red Dragon?
The thing is I'm so in love with the Red Dragon script that I can't stand to see the studios taking it people who won't do it justice. Ratner and Bay are guys that have proven to make fun/stupid movies. Red Dragon is a serious screenplay that is brilliantly crafted by Ted Tally and I'd hate to see all of Mr. Tally's work be for not.
I just keep finding myself beating my head against the wall on this project. How hard is it to approach a director that has actually proven they can make this type of movie in the past? I mean, really. If the studio is still going to try to give it to a visual filmmaker, why not offer it to David Fincher or Spike Jonze... hell! Why not go completely off the wall and ask Cronenberg or John Carpenter? Cronenberg tackled similar material in The Dead Zone and Carpenter is the king of the anti-hero, which, let's face it, is just what Hannibal Lecter is.
Well, guys, I'm officially depressed about this project. The more news I hear, the worse it gets. I wish they could just give Demme the movie, no matter what he's asking to do it. But that might be just me. You guys talkback who should helm/star/shoot/grip/light/cater this project.
Anyway, time for me to shove off my fellow seaman and lovely mermaids. I gots lots of cool shit coming, so keep watching the page, squirts. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fine farewell and adieu.
