President Donald Trump is reportedly leveraging his influence to revive the "Rush Hour" movie franchise, pushing Paramount to produce a fourth installment nearly two decades after the release of "Rush Hour 3" in 2007. According to a report by Semafor, Trump has "personally pressed" Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of Paramount, to bring back the buddy-cop action-comedy series starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
Trump's motivation seemingly stems from a broader desire to resurrect the spirit of late 1980s and 1990s action comedies, films characterized by "raucous" humor and traditional masculine heroes. He is also reportedly passionate about the 1988 Jean Claude Van Damme film "Bloodsport" and has discussed rebooting that film with Ellison as well.
The original "Rush Hour" trilogy, which began in 1998, blended martial arts action with cross-cultural comedic elements, achieving significant box office success. However, the franchise has been dormant since the release of "Rush Hour 3," which received less favorable reviews than its predecessors.
Several factors complicate the potential revival. Firstly, the rights to "Rush Hour" are owned by Warner Bros. subsidiary New Line Cinema, while Paramount, where Ellison is a major shareholder, recently bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Secondly, Brett Ratner, who directed all three "Rush Hour" films, has been largely ostracized from Hollywood since 2017 due to multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Despite these allegations, Ratner directed an upcoming documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, which was acquired by Amazon for $40 million.
The potential involvement of Ratner in a "Rush Hour" reboot is a sensitive issue, with reports indicating that his participation was a "non-starter" for both Paramount Pictures and Sony. While Lionsgate is reportedly considering a "Rush Hour 4", it is unlikely they would bring in Ratner to direct.
Adding another layer to the story, Arthur Sarkissian, the producer of the "Rush Hour" franchise, is the head of production at Global Ascension Studios, which produced a documentary offering a favorable portrayal of Trump in 2024.
Notably, Jackie Chan urged people to give Trump a chance back in 2016. Chris Tucker confirmed that "Rush Hour 4" was happening in 2018, stating that "It's going to be the rush of all rushes".
Whether Trump's intervention will lead to a "Rush Hour" revival remains to be seen. The White House and Paramount have not commented on the matter. However, this episode highlights the intersection of politics and entertainment, with a former president using his influence to potentially shape Hollywood's creative landscape.
