HOLLYWOOD - Moviemaker Brett Ratner is demanding a $10 million fee to direct a movie after "running low" on money, according to reports.

The director made a reported $7 million for his work on Rush Hour 3.

But a source tells New York gossip column PageSix, "Brett got $7 million upfront for the movie, but if it had done as well as Rush Hour 2, he would have gotten another $10 million off the back end.

"He got $5 million to direct X-Men: The Last Stand but didn't see anything on the back end because it barely broke even. He's now trying to command a fee of $10 million upfront to direct a movie, which is out of range for a lot of projects. His cash is running a bit low."

But a representative for Ratner refuted the claims, adding, "That is ridiculous. Brett has a two-picture deal with Imagine and a third at New Line."

http://www.hollywood.com/news/Ratners_Cash_Woes/4670178