TL;DR : Paramount has approved Rush Hour 4 after Donald Trump personally pushed the studio’s owner, Larry Ellison, to revive the franchise. Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, and director Brett Ratner are all returning. Paramount will distribute the film but will not finance it, and Warner Bros will still receive a share of the box office.
Main Points
What Happened
- Rush Hour 4 was officially greenlit after Donald Trump pushed Paramount owner Larry Ellison to revive the franchise.
- Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are expected to return as Chief Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter.
- Brett Ratner will return to direct, marking his first major film since 2017 sexual misconduct allegations (which he denies).
- Financing is arranged by Tarak Ben Ammar, with original producer Arthur Sarkissian also involved.
Production & Distribution
- Paramount will distribute the film for a fixed double-digit fee, with no financing or marketing responsibility.
- Warner Bros. retains franchise rights and receives first-dollar gross before financiers recoup expenses.
- Development is active; filming may begin in 2026, targeting a 2027 release.
- No official synopsis or final script has been released.
Trump’s Role
- Reports state Trump personally contacted Larry and David Ellison to push for the film’s revival.
- Trump has publicly praised the franchise and maintains close ties with Ratner, who recently directed a Melania Trump documentary.
- His involvement is described as a key factor in overcoming industry hesitation regarding Ratner.
Context
- The first three Rush Hour films earned over $850 million worldwide.
- The sequel stalled for years due to creative delays, financing issues, and Ratner’s controversy.
- Outlets including Variety, Deadline, The Guardian, Newsweek, and CNBC reported confirmation on Nov. 24-25, 2025.
- There is no official Paramount/Skydance press statement yet; all confirmation comes from industry reporting.
Rush Hour Film Series Overview: Synopsis, Release Year, and Box Office
Movie | Official Synopsis | Release Year | Worldwide Box Office Gross (approx.) |
Rush Hour (1) | Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) from LA teams with Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) from Hong Kong to rescue a kidnapped Chinese diplomat's daughter, blending comedy and martial arts action. | 1998 | $244 million |
Rush Hour 2 | Carter and Lee travel to Hong Kong to protect a friend and uncover a counterfeiting scheme involving Triads, with their signature action-comedy mix. | 2001 | $347 million |
Rush Hour 3 | The duo reunites in Paris to dismantle a crime syndicate involved in a complex Chinatown war and rescue Lee's kidnapped father, with more cultural comedy and fistfights. | 2007 | $258 million |
These films collectively helped define a popular buddy-cop action-comedy franchise blending slapstick humor, martial arts sequences, and cross-cultural clashes, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as the central partners.