'SUPERMAN' IS STUCK ON THE GROUND BUT 'BATMAN' IS TAKING WING

Holy Kryptonite! Only a week after director Brett Ratner exited 'Superman' at Warner Bros. (from a window?) the studio is trying to rev up the 'Batmobile'!

This comic-book story is being penned by screenwriter David Goyer. Goyer was the writer who put together the relatively low-cost and high-grossing 'Blade' franchise for New Line, where he also recently dusted off 'Jason vs. Freddy'.

Insiders say Goyer will write an entirely new version of the Caped Crusader based on a take by 'Insomnia' helmer Christopher Nolan and unrelated to non-starters like 'Batman vs. Superman' and 'Batman: Year One'.

'Batman vs. Superman' nearly went into production with director Wolfgang Petersen and a script by Andrew Kevin Walker ('Seven') until Petersen moved to the Greek epic 'Troy' at the studio, starring Brad Pitt and Eric Bana.

'Batman: Year One', is a Gen-X version of the crimefighter that was being developed by Darren Aronofsky and creator Frank Miller; it stalled some months ago.

Warner Bros. execs could not be reached for comment, and Goyer's reps at the William Morris Agency declined to comment on the negotiations.