To Conan, or Not to Conan, That Is Ratner's Question

To direct or not to direct - that is Brett Ratner's question. Or more accurately, the question on the minds of those behind the upcoming "Conan" movie. Ratner has basically admitted that, yes, he will be working on a new entry in the "Conan" series, but he's being coy as to exactly when he will begin directing, or what kind of cast he will be directing. One clue that he did drop to the L.A. Times was that he hopes to snap "Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger for a cameo in the film that made him famous. And yet, Ratner is confirming his goal to work with Nu Image production company for Conan while also bashing producer Avi Lerner. Weird, huh?

The producer of the upcoming "Conan" film, Avi Lerner, had previously announced Ratner was fully on board. While rejecting that claim as "premature," he simultaneously confirmed that he will be working on the film . . . just later. He also stated to the L.A. Times, "For now, Conan is only a development deal. I have a deal at Paramount . . . Avi shouldn't be telling you or anyone else in the press what I'm doing."

Ouch. Could such statements leave a bad taste in the mouth of Lerner, if he does end up working with Ratner, which, as it seems probable, he will be? Ratner confirms that his number one concern now is directing the fourth installment in the "Beverly Hills Cop" series, starring Eddie Murphy. The last "Beverly Hills Cop" was made in the early 1990s.