'Youngblood' still at scripting stage

Brett Ratner has revealed that his proposed Youngblood movie is still at the scripting stage.

Speaking to MTV, the helmer said that writers J.P. Lavin and Chad Damiani are hard at work on a screenplay for the Image Comics adaptation.

"We're still working on it," he told the network, before going on to say that legal issues delayed the film's production.

"There were some rights issues," he explained. "We actually waited for over a year for the rights to these comic books. There were a lot of owners of these comic books and a lot of people were claiming they had the rights. It's taken a long time but I think we've finally cleared the legal part of it."

Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld is on board as a consultant for the movie, which could begin filming as early as next year, according to Ratner.

"I'm a tenacious guy and I persevere and I don't stop and if I focus it's going to happen," the director added. "And I'm focused on it."