‘Rush Hour 4’ Revived: Paramount to Distribute After Reported Trump Push
LOS ANGELES (January 24, 2024) – Paramount Pictures is finalizing a deal to distribute ”Rush Hour 4,” marking a potential comeback for director Brett Ratner and the popular action-comedy franchise after years of stalled development and controversy. The move comes following a reported personal request from former President Donald Trump, raising questions about the intersection of entertainment deals and political influence.
the distribution agreement, with Paramount taking a fee rather than financing the film, represents a notable shift for the project. Warner Bros. severed ties with Ratner in 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct, effectively halting his involvement in the industry. “Rush Hour 4″ would reunite stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, reprising thier roles from the 1998, 2001, and 2007 installments.
The revival gained momentum after Semafor reported Sunday that Trump urged Paramount to take on the film. This occurred shortly after Paramount completed its $8 billion merger with skydance, a deal requiring approval from the Trump administration. Trump has publicly praised Paramount’s new chairperson and CEO, David Ellison, son of Larry Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter and Oracle executive chairperson.
Ratner had been independently shopping the project after Warner Bros. declined to participate. He has managed to complete one film since the 2017 allegations: a documentary on former First Lady Melania Trump,acquired by Amazon MGM Studios for a reported $40 million and scheduled for theatrical release on January 30.
In 2017, six women accused Ratner of sexual harassment in a Los Angeles Times report. Ratner denied the allegations. The white House has not yet commented on the reported request regarding “Rush Hour 4.”