Paramount Studios is set to distribute Rush Hour 4, reuniting original stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker nearly two decades after the last film. Reports suggest that US President Donald Trump personally pushed for the revival of the iconic cop-buddy franchise.
Director Brett Ratner, who rose to fame with the original Rush Hour in 1998, is attached to the project. The first film followed two mismatched cops hunting a kidnapped Chinese diplomat’s daughter, while the subsequent sequels placed the pair in different comedic adventures, all of which were major box office hits.
Ratner’s career faced a major setback after six women accused him of sexual misconduct in a 2017 Los Angeles Times investigation, which effectively blacklisted him from major studios. Despite multiple pitches for a fourth installment over the years to studios such as Sony, Lionsgate, and Paramount, the project never gained traction—until now.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Ratner developed ties with the Trump family while directing Melania, a documentary about First Lady produced with her involvement. The film marked Ratner’s return to filmmaking and was reportedly purchased by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million, according to Variety.
Paramount CEO David Ellison, son of billionaire Larry Ellison, who is a known Trump donor, was reportedly approached by Trump to greenlight the new Rush Hour. Media outlets have varied in certainty, with The Hollywood Reporter expressing some caution over the project, while Variety confirms its development.
The Guardian suggested that the reboot may also align with Trump’s broader cultural agenda, seen by some as an effort to reintroduce “old-fashioned masculinity” into Hollywood cinema. Regardless of the motivation, fans of the franchise can expect Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker to return to their iconic roles.
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