BRETT RATNER - RATNER WANTS MCKELLEN TO PLAY IT BAD IN RUSH HOUR 3

Movie-maker BRETT RATNER is hoping to persuade busy British thespian SIR IAN MCKELLEN to play the villain in his third RUSH HOUR movie. Ratner, who directed MCKellen in the new X-MEN film, THE LAST STAND, admits he's a huge fan of the actor and loves it when he's bad. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ratner says, "(He would be) the very bad French villain, who is inspired by (actor) MAX VON SYDOW in THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. CHRIS TUCKER and JACKIE CHAN will reteam for the follow-up to 2001's RUSH HOUR 2.