In a dramatic Hollywood turnaround, Paramount Pictures is finalising a deal to distribute Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour 4" following reported personal intervention from President Donald Trump, according to industry sources.
From Hollywood Exile to Presidential Backing
The action-comedy sequel, which would reunite stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, had been struggling to find distribution after Warner Bros severed ties with Ratner in 2017. That decision came after six women accused the director of sexual harassment in a Los Angeles Times report published during the peak of the #MeToo movement.
Ratner, who consistently denied the allegations, hasn't produced a major studio film this decade. Warner Bros had previously distributed the first three films in the franchise and terminated a $450-million co-financing deal with Ratner's production company following the allegations.
The Trump Connection and Corporate Relationships
The project's revival gained momentum when Semafor reported on Sunday that President Trump personally requested Paramount take on the distribution of Rush Hour 4. This development comes shortly after Paramount's recent $8 billion merger with Skydance, a deal that required regulatory approval from the Trump administration.
Industry observers note the significant corporate relationships involved. Trump has publicly praised David Ellison, the new chairperson and chief executive of the merged Paramount-Skydance entity. Ellison is the son of Oracle executive chairperson Larry Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter.
The White House has not immediately commented on the reports of presidential intervention in the film distribution deal.
Distribution Rather Than Financing
According to a source close to the negotiations who requested anonymity, Paramount was in closing talks on Tuesday to distribute the film. Importantly, the studio would be stepping in to take a distribution fee on Rush Hour 4 rather than financing its production.
This isn't Ratner's only recent project with connections to the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios acquired distribution rights to his documentary about First Lady Melania Trump for a reported $40 million. That film is scheduled for theatrical release on January 30.
The original Rush Hour franchise launched in 1998 with sequels following in 2001 and 2007, establishing itself as a highly successful action-comedy series that grossed hundreds of millions worldwide.
