Like an alley cat scavenging behind the bins at LA’s most luxurious restaurant, Brett Ratner has picked up a directing project that Steven Spielberg had on his plate, but put aside to work on other dishes such as Lincoln and War Horse. Deadline reports that Ratner will take on the job of making The 39 Clues.
The film will adapt the multimedia series which followers have been playing across an 11-part phased release in several platforms, including novels, online elements and collectable cards. It tells the story of the Cahills, the most powerful family in the world. The story revolves around the search for the source of the family’s power, a globetrotting escapade that will eventually involve 39 clues.
Writer Jeff Nathanson, who had a solid relationship with Spielberg but has also worked with Ratner on the Rush Hour films and the director’s most recent pic, Tower Heist, is behind the script.
There’s no word on when this one will actually get moving – it was originally set up in 2008 – as Ratner is also a busy man, with various projects on his development burners. There’s still the small matter of a new Beverly Hills Cop entry in the offing, and he’ll be busy finishing and promoting Tower Heist for a while yet.