In a surprising Hollywood development, Rush Hour 4 has officially received the green light at Paramount Pictures, following what sources describe as direct intervention from former US President Donald Trump.
The Trump Connection and Deal Making
The long-awaited sequel, which will reunite stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, had been shopped around Hollywood for years by director Brett Ratner without success. According to reports from Puck's Matthew Belloni, the project gained momentum when Trump lobbied on its behalf to his friend and financial backer Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of the new Paramount Skydance.
This intervention proved crucial, with Paramount subsequently securing funding for the film and agreeing to a distribution deal with Warner Bros. The studio had previously owned the buddy-cop franchise under its New Line banner. The move comes after Paramount Global, earlier this year, settled a lawsuit with Trump concerning a critical CBS News interview.
Controversial Director's Return
The announcement marks a significant comeback for director Brett Ratner, whose career was derailed during the #MeToo movement when several women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017. Ratner had previously sued Melanie Kohler, a former Endeavor Talent Agency employee who alleged the director raped her at the home of famed Hollywood producer Robert Evans.
The case was settled in 2018, with Kohler stating at the time that she hoped Ratner would be held "accountable for the way he's treated the nobodies of the world." Ratner's most recent directorial work was a $40 million documentary about Melania Trump for Amazon MGM Studios, scheduled for theatrical release on 30 January.
Franchise Revival and Cultural Implications
The original Rush Hour trilogy grossed over $850 million worldwide and maintained particular popularity in China. Despite the franchise's commercial success and the film industry's increasing reliance on established intellectual property, Ratner had struggled to secure financing for a fourth instalment until now.
The revival is widely perceived as part of Trump's broader efforts to reintroduce traditional masculinity into Hollywood culture during a potential second term. This initiative has previously seen him appointing Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight and Mel Gibson as unofficial "special ambassadors" to the industry.
As Belloni commented on social media regarding the Rush Hour 4 deal: "Get ready for the dumbest possible state-controlled media." The project raises questions about market demand for the franchise revival, with Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw previously questioning whether "the world really needs or wants Rush Hour 4."
