The buddy cop comedy that defined late '90s action movies is coming back, and the story behind its revival is unlike anything Hollywood has ever seen.
Rush Hour 4 has officially been greenlit, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker set to return more than two decades after Rush Hour 3 hit theaters in 2007. But what makes this comeback truly unprecedented is how it happened: President Donald Trump personally pushed for the production, according to multiple reports from CNBC and Variety.
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker Return for Rush Hour 4
The original Rush Hour trilogy was a global phenomenon, earning more than $850 million worldwide and turning Chan and Tucker into major stars. The first film's mix of martial arts action and fish-out-of-water comedy clicked with audiences in 1998, and the sequels in 2001 and 2007 were even bigger commercial hits.
Now, Paramount has secured funding and struck an unusual distribution deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which previously owned the franchise under its New Line banner. Paramount will collect a flat distribution fee to release the film theatrically, while Warner Bros. will receive a percentage of box office revenues.
Photo by Jeremy Bembaron on Getty Images
The project had been in limbo for years. Studios were repeatedly approached about a new installment but balked at working with director Brett Ratner, who directed the first three films. Ratner's career collapsed in 2017 after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. He has denied the allegations and was never charged.
@moviemanmanmanWe’re getting a Rush Hour 4, but at what cost? #rushhour #rushhourtrilogy #rushhour4
♬ original sound - Kev ???According to reports, Paramount's decision came "after prodding from Trump on behalf of Brett Ratner," who will direct the fourth film. Ratner recently directed a documentary about first lady Melania Trump for Amazon Prime.
Can Rush Hour 4 Succeed in Today's Box Office?
The sequel faces significant challenges. Chan is now 71 and has scaled back U.S. studio work, while Tucker hasn't headlined a major film since 2007. Additionally, comedies have largely struggled at the box office in recent years, a far cry from the theatrical landscape that made the original trilogy so successful.
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For Paramount, which was recently acquired by Skydance, Rush Hour 4 helps fill its expanded slate. The studio aims to increase from eight annual releases to 15 by 2026.
Trump's intervention in Hollywood production has drawn both support and criticism. He has said he wants to restore what he calls "classical masculinity" to studio filmmaking and has informally tapped allies including Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as cultural emissaries.
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Whether Rush Hour 4 can recapture the magic that made the originals work remains to be seen, but one thing's certain: its path to the big screen is already one for the history books.
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