President Donald Trump has reportedly played a key role in reviving the Rush Hour franchise.
According to Semafor, Trump personally encouraged Oracle founder Larry Ellison — Paramount’s largest shareholder — to move forward with a fourth installment of the hit action-comedy series, which last appeared in theaters in 2007. The push comes as part of the president’s broader interest in reviving the fun, fast-paced action films popular in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Paramount has confirmed Rush Hour 4 is now in active development, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker expected to reunite on screen as Inspector Lee and Detective Carter. Brett Ratner, who directed the original trilogy, is attached to return. The film is set to be distributed through Warner Bros. Discovery as part of a new studio agreement.
The original three films were major box-office hits, earning over $850 million worldwide and helping turn Chan and Tucker into global stars. The series remained on hold for nearly 18 years, partly because studios were hesitant to work with Ratner after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017 — accusations he denied.
Sources tell Semafor the president’s involvement is tied to a broader creative direction he favors for Hollywood, one that reflects the explosive action films he has praised over the years. Trump has openly expressed his affection for classic martial arts and action films, such as the 1988 film Bloodsport, and has welcomed several well-known action stars to the White House.
Producer Dallas Sonnier told the outlet that the film style Trump supports includes “plenty of explosions, gunfights, helicopter scenes, brawls, and car chases,” with heroes who display confidence and commitment to duty.
The revival of Rush Hour also comes as Paramount Skydance pursues its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the studio that holds the rights to the franchise. Trump has reportedly signaled support for the acquisition, according to The Guardian. Paramount Skydance, run by Ellison’s son David Ellison, has submitted offers estimated between $60 billion and $71 billion with investment backing from several international funds.
Competing offers from Comcast and Netflix are also under review, and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to decide by mid-to-late December.
For Paramount, the new sequel aligns with its post-merger plans to significantly expand its movie output, to release as many as 18 films annually by 2028. Rush Hour 4 would mark a high-profile return for the franchise, although both stars have kept a relatively low Hollywood profile in recent years. Chan, now 71, has worked less frequently in the U.S., and Tucker has not appeared in a major theatrical release since Rush Hour 3.
Ratner’s return to the director’s chair marks a significant comeback after the allegations that sidelined him in 2017. He recently completed a documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump for Amazon. Arthur Sarkissian, who produced the original films, remains involved in the new project.
Neither Chan nor Tucker has publicly criticized Trump in recent years. Chan voiced support in 2016, encouraging Americans to give Trump a chance, while Tucker said in 2018 that he hoped Trump would “do the right thing.”
With the film now officially in development, Paramount is expected to announce additional casting and production details in the coming months. For fans, the revival marks the long-awaited return of one of Hollywood’s most beloved action-comedy duos — and a major nostalgia play for a studio expanding its franchise slate.
