A new chapter in the beloved buddy-cop series Rush Hour may be on the way. Insiders say the fourth installment, Rush Hour 4, is officially in development — reportedly after direct intervention from Donald J. Trump.
Trump’s Push Behind the Curtain
According to multiple sources, Trump personally urged studio leadership at Paramount Pictures — now part of Paramount Skydance — to green-light the sequel and revive the dormant franchise. The movie will return with the original director, Brett Ratner, who helmed the first three films.
The news has created a stir. For years, studios had declined to take on a fourth film — partly due to Ratner’s career being derailed by serious misconduct allegations during the #MeToo era.
Longtime franchise stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are reportedly returning for the new film. The series — originally launched in 1998 — earned more than US$850 million globally across its three previous films. That success, combined with ongoing interest in nostalgia-driven content, likely helped make the business case for a revival.
A senior Hollywood insider told reporters, “The project hit snags for years. Then the nudge came.” Others familiar with the discussions said Trump’s backing “changed the calculus.”
At present, studio executives have confirmed only that the project is in active development and that Ratner will direct. No official production schedule, release date or supporting cast details have been disclosed. Furthermore, it remains unclear how the film might address or navigate the controversy surrounding the director’s past.