Former US President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing Hollywood studios to revive the beloved Rush Hour franchise, potentially signalling his return to the entertainment industry.
The Presidential Push for Action Comedy
According to recent reports, Trump has personally approached Paramount to request a fourth instalment of the popular buddy cop series that originally starred Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. The original Rush Hour film debuted in 1998 and spawned two sequels, becoming one of the most successful comedy franchises of its era.
The initiative appears to be part of Trump's broader second-term vision, which includes reintroducing what he considers traditional masculinity to Hollywood culture. The project would also create employment opportunities for Brett Ratner, who directed the first three Rush Hour films.
Controversial Connections and Background
Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of Paramount Skydance, has reportedly received pressure from the former president to greenlight the project. This development comes after Paramount Global, earlier this year, settled a lawsuit with Trump that bears similarities to his recent legal threats against the BBC.
Brett Ratner, the original franchise director, faced sexual assault allegations in 2017, which he denied. More recently, Ratner directed a $40 million documentary about Melania Trump described by insiders as "soft-hitting."
Franchise Revival Questions and Cultural Impact
The Rush Hour series built its success on the unlikely partnership between Chris Tucker's fast-talking LAPD detective James Carter and Jackie Chan's disciplined Hong Kong police officer Yan Naing Lee. The films combined cultural clash humour with impressive action sequences, featuring Tucker's comedic American style and Chan's spectacular martial arts prowess.
Market forces haven't naturally produced a fourth film despite the franchise's popularity, raising questions about whether contemporary audiences would embrace the series' particular brand of humour and stereotypical portrayals.
Trump's enthusiasm for the project has sparked speculation about his potential involvement beyond mere advocacy. Could he be planning a cameo appearance, following his previous acting credits? Or does this signal a broader ambition to return to entertainment after politics, similar to Arnold Schwarzenegger's career trajectory?
Another theory suggests Trump may have developed an appreciation for the franchise's inclusive qualities, featuring a black American and Asian protagonist working together under the American flag. This interpretation gained traction after Trump's surprisingly cordial meeting with New York's Democratic socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, which contrasted sharply with his famously tense initial encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Whether Rush Hour 4 materialises remains uncertain, but the presidential endorsement has certainly reignited conversation about the franchise's potential comeback and what it might mean for Trump's post-political career ambitions.
