“Rush Hour 4” Officially Moving Forward; Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker to Return

The long-awaited “Rush Hour 4” is officially in development, with Paramount Pictures set to distribute the fourth installment of the iconic buddy-cop franchise. According to Semafor, the sequel received an unexpected push from U.S. President Donald Trump, who personally urged the studio to revive the franchise.

Brett Ratner Returns Despite Past Controversies

Director Brett Ratner, who helmed the first three films, is returning to direct “Rush Hour 4.” Ratner’s Hollywood career largely stalled after multiple sexual misconduct allegations surfaced during the #MeToo movement in 2017.
His renewed involvement reportedly stems from his close ties with the Trump family, developed while working on “Melania,” a documentary Amazon acquired for $40 million.

The film will mark Ratner’s first feature project since 2014’s “Hercules”, starring Dwayne Johnson.

Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker Reunite

The franchise’s original stars — Jackie Chan (71) and Chris Tucker, who hasn’t led a film since 2007 — are returning as the beloved duo Inspector Lee and Detective Carter.

Paramount’s Role & Unusual Deal Structure

Paramount will distribute the movie for a flat fee, without handling financing or marketing.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. (via New Line), which backed the first three films, will receive first-dollar gross, meaning it earns a percentage of box office revenue before costs are recovered.

Multiple studios reportedly declined involvement due to Ratner’s presence, until Paramount — now owned by Skydance — agreed to the distribution-only arrangement.

Franchise Background & Market Challenges

The original “Rush Hour” (1998) was a global hit, grossing $244 million.
Its sequels performed even better:

• Rush Hour 2 (2001) – $347M

• Rush Hour 3 (2007) – $258M

However, box-office comedies have struggled in recent years, raising questions about the film’s commercial potential. Chan’s age and Tucker’s long absence also add uncertainty to the project’s timeline and action-heavy formula.

Paramount’s Larger Strategy

Paramount, under new CEO David Ellison, aims to expand its slate from 8 annual releases to 15 by 2026, and up to 18 by 2028. Ellison — son of billionaire Larry Ellison, one of Trump’s major supporters — has been publicly praised by Trump for his leadership of the company.