The Sci-Fi Wire has confirmed that Brett Ratner, the director of the hugely popular Rush Hour films, has signed on to direct J.J. Abrams' highly touted script for the first film in a Superman trilogy.  Ratner's deal is an example of corporate synergy since in order to get the prime Superman assignment Ratner reportedly agreed to direct Rush Hour 3, which will be made by New Line Cinema, one of Warner Brothers' sister companies.  Ratner has already started working on pre-production on Superman and hopes to be shooting the film in nine months.  Warners is hoping to have the film out in 2004, which appears to be possible now that a director has been found.

Last Sunday's New York Times featured an in-depth report on the difficulties that Warner Brothers had deciding whether to make the Superman film or the darker Batman vs. Superman.  Abrams' epic and optimistic Superman movie won out over the Milleresque Batman vs. Superman.  No casting announcements have been made yet. Ratner has said that he prefers to cast an unknown as Superman, though he wants Anthony Hopkins for the role of Jor-El.