Hold onto your hats, movie fans! It seems President Donald Trump might have played a role in bringing back a beloved comedy franchise. Reports suggest that Trump personally pushed for a fourth installment of the iconic ‘Rush Hour’ movie series, starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan.
A Presidential Push for ‘Rush Hour 4’
According to Semafor, the decision to revive the franchise, which has been dormant for nearly 20 years since ‘Rush Hour 3,’ was influenced by a personal request from the President. This intervention reportedly helped get the project back on track, nearly 25 years after the original film debuted in 1998.
Adding another layer to the story, Brett Ratner, the original director whose career was impacted by sexual misconduct allegations, is slated to direct the fourth film. This marks Ratner’s first feature film since 2014’s ‘Hercules.’
Paramount and Skydance Media Involvement
The film is set to be distributed by Paramount, a company owned by David Ellison, the son of Trump’s close friend and financial backer Larry Ellison. David Ellison also owns Skydance Media, which recently acquired Paramount Global. Sources indicate that Trump discussed bringing back various movies, including ‘Rush Hour,’ with Ellison.
While the franchise was initially distributed by Warner Bros., it had been licensed to other studios. However, no studio was willing to revive ‘Rush Hour’ with Ratner attached as director until Trump’s reported involvement. This suggests a significant influence from the President in greenlighting the project.
Box Office Success and Returning Stars
The ‘Rush Hour’ films have a strong track record at the box office. The original grossed $244 million globally, ‘Rush Hour 2’ (2001) was the most successful financially with $347 million, and ‘Rush Hour 3’ brought in $258 million. Beyond confirming the return of Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, details about other cast members or a specific release date for ‘Rush Hour 4’ have not yet been announced.
Chris Tucker has expressed excitement about the potential sequel, and Jackie Chan has remained active in releasing films. Meanwhile, Tucker is also slated to return for the purported final installment of the ‘Friday’ movie series, ‘Last Friday,’ in 2026.
What do you think about Donald Trump reportedly pushing for ‘Rush Hour 4’? Are you excited to see the franchise return? Share your thoughts in the comments below!