Brett Ratner to Direct Harbinger

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Brett Ratner to Direct Harbinger

Source:Valiant Entertainment, LLC

March 11, 2008

Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to turn the Valiant Comics' series Harbinger into a live-action feature film that will be directed by Brett Ratner.

Ratner, who directed X-Men: The Last Stand, was looking for an opportunity to start a superhero film franchise from scratch and has been a fan of the Harbinger comic book since its original release in 1992.

Valiant Comics is being relaunched by Valiant Entertainment, a privately financed company headed by CEO Jason Kothari and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. Valiant Comics developed a very large following in the 1990s by launching superhero franchises that had interconnected storylines. At its peak, Valiant gained a market share identical to DC Comics, owner of Batman and Superman, and was named Publisher of the Year ahead of current industry leaders Marvel Comics and DC Comics. Valiant Comics was sold to video game company Acclaim Entertainment in 1994 for $65 million and has sold 80 million comic books and 8 million video games.

Kothari's group bought the Valiant library last year from Acclaim Entertainment and formed Valiant Entertainment. Valiant's plan is to bring the popular characters to life in film and television. They signed with William Morris Agency to make film and television deals for the franchises.

"We are delighted to be working with leading partners in Paramount Pictures and director Brett Ratner on Valiant's first film deal. The future for Valiant's library of superhero franchises in film and other mass media is very bright," said Jason Kothari, CEO of Valiant Entertainment.

Created by former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, the Harbinger comic book series was a hit in the 1990s, selling over five million comic books and was named Comic Book of the Decade.

Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani said, "Brett Ratner is the ideal choice to bring 'Harbinger' to life on the big screen, as he is not only one of Hollywood's hottest directors but has been a fan of Valiant Comics for many years."

Alexandra Milchan will produce with Brett Ratner and Jay Stern. Jason Kothari and Dinesh Shamdasani will co-produce. The project may be branded under the MTV Films banner.

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Posted by: Mandeezee on March 11, 2008 at 02:00:39

No kidding! I wonder if the rest of the Valiant comics are coming? Rai? Bloodshot? Ninjak? errr maybe not Ninjak

Posted by: Michael on March 11, 2008 at 02:06:32

Never heard of this comic book series,but it
does sound like something that Brett Ratner
would do.He did a great job on X-MEN 3,so we
will have to see what he does with it.

Posted by: Dogma Jedi on March 11, 2008 at 02:08:19

There is no way you could ever accuse Brett Ratner of doing a great job on X3. It was painfully bad.

Posted by: superion on March 11, 2008 at 02:20:15

I thought Brett did a really good job on X-Men 3 for coming on to the project as late as he did. I sure enjoy it more than Superman Returns.

Posted by: Darth Colossus on March 11, 2008 at 02:21:27

Brett Ratner sux! He and the writers killed basicly everyone in X-Men The Last Stand.

Posted by: gtrman on March 11, 2008 at 02:21:56

Damn! I don't know what to think, because Harbinger was a GREAT series with fantastic writing, and deserves a better director. A MUCH better director.

Posted by: jason on March 11, 2008 at 02:23:52

x-men 3 was an abortion of a movie. someone needs to smack brett ratner over the nose like a puppy that just **** on rug for that one.

Posted by: dave on March 11, 2008 at 02:24:03

why would anyone argue that he did a good job on x3?

Posted by: AssGrabber on March 11, 2008 at 02:34:59

How does Brett Ratner continue to get work?

Posted by: Why??? on March 11, 2008 at 03:21:39

Sucks for Harbinger fans.

Posted by: SALLY SAX on March 11, 2008 at 03:31:51

I WANT TO C A VISTER MOVIE THAT WOULD BE COOL

Posted by: Matt Pascoe on March 11, 2008 at 03:49:55

Great great great news! Not sure on Ratner, liked X-Men 3 hated Rush Hour 3...

Would love to see Archer and Armstrong as a movie and oh my god would kill for X-O Manowar. sally sax: visitor would be cool heh

Posted by: PTO on March 11, 2008 at 04:31:40

Someone should make an internet video making fun of Harbinger so that Ratner can have something 'funny' to reference in his movie.

Posted by: Corban on March 11, 2008 at 04:58:43

I'm not familiar with the Harbinger series... I am slightly familiar with Brett Ratner's work. I've given him a chance and I can't say that I will be seeing any more of his films. It's not as though I'm expecting an Oscar from his films, and he didn't 'Schumacher' the X-Men series, but with a cast of that magnitude I don't feel he did his job as a director to get the best from everyone both cast and crew alike.

Posted by: Scott K on March 11, 2008 at 05:02:52

Yeah, definitely sucks for Harbinger fans. Why can't this hack just stick to buddy comedies?

Posted by: DutchValiantFan on March 11, 2008 at 05:04:07

Valiant returns! This is great news, but why not make a X O Manowar movie, or a tv series wichs translates the best crossover in history: Unity. And how come some people do not know Valiant?! Know your classics people!

Posted by: B on March 11, 2008 at 06:04:07

Was never much of a Valiant Comics fan (though I enjoyed X-O Manowar) though Brett Ratner directing just about anything is hardly cause for celebration.

He can get the job done, but brings no style, no vision to the table.

I think that I will pass.

Posted by: batboy999 on March 11, 2008 at 06:07:58

x-men 3 was an over-timed cartoon. however, brett ratner didn't destroy the franchise... halle barry did. storm leveled the complex, and i'm afraid wolverine will turn the parking lot into a crater, but we'll see. ratner isn't responsible for that cartoon being awful. it was storm and leech. oh yeah, and killing xavier and cyclops was pretty stupid, too. really, all three of those movies were kind of corny. but x3 wasn't as bad as spidey 3. ick!!!!!!

Posted by: staind on March 11, 2008 at 06:20:24

I agree Ratner isn't solely responsible for X3, there is a lot of blame to go around there. I mean he is executive producer on Prison Break, so he is capable of doing something right.

Posted by: Star Brand on March 11, 2008 at 06:27:35

I couldn't be more excited about a movie! Harbinger was one of the best and most influential comics ever made.

Posted by: darthlaney on March 11, 2008 at 07:19:14

harbinger was a great series - but how about SOLAR

Posted by: Duneboy on March 11, 2008 at 08:28:08

That be cool. If they do it right.

Posted by: Jamie on March 11, 2008 at 08:32:19

Hey what about a Magnus the Robot Fighter movie? I loved that comic growing up.

Posted by: SZENSEI on March 11, 2008 at 09:48:19

its about damn time someone recognized the material JIM SHOOTER conceived oh so many moons ago. RATNER's never been a favorite of mine either but i always maintain hope for any comic made to movie. give the guy a chance. redemption takes time. concerning his X3 directing...am i the only one who see's an easy fix for that franchise? MISTER SINISTER does make clones. Gambit's supposed to be his son. The way i see it even though it might be cheesy he can make a clone of the Professor for his mind to re-inhabit. the same goes for Cyclops and even Jean Grey. considering how Halle Berry wanted more screen time let ole Sinister clone Storm so she could take on herself in battle. Wolverine could be cloned and have bone claw Logan versus Adamantium bone Logan. makes sense right? at least to me it does lol....back to Harbinger...how can anyone forget ole Turok? lets get ALL of those Valiant characters in the theater. unlike most people i love the glut we get of comic movies. better or worse at least they try to do justice.

Posted by: Vex on March 11, 2008 at 10:30:43

Headline: Brett Ratner to Direct Harbinger
Subheading: Fans everywhere shed a tear

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