TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Paramount Pictures has confirmed that Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour 4 is officially in the works, following a personal request from President Donald Trump for the studio to take on the fourth installment of the franchise.
USA Today, Variety, and Deadline all cited Semafor’s report that Trump urged the Ellison family, specifically CEO David Ellison, whose father Larry Ellison is a close Trump ally, to revive the long-dormant series. The timing is notable, as the comedy market has been relatively quiet, making the return of a proven franchise an attractive opportunity.
The project itself has been circulating in Hollywood since 2024. Eagle Pictures’ Tarak Ben Ammar, one of Italy’s leading film executives, teamed up with original producer Arthur Sarkissian in an effort to set the sequel in motion.
Their efforts eventually led the film to Paramount, which, as Variety notes, will distribute the film under a flat distribution fee and will not fund or market it. Meanwhile, Warner Bros., whose New Line division produced the original trilogy, will receive first-dollar gross from box-office revenues.
The core creative team remains largely intact, with Brett Ratner returning to direct after facing multiple sexual assault allegations in 2017. Ratner later sued for defamation, and both parties agreed to settle in late 2018.
The film will also reunite original stars Jackie Chan as Chief Inspector Lee of the Hong Kong Police Force and Chris Tucker as LAPD Detective James Carter. Should Rush Hour 4 move forward as planned, it will mark the franchise’s return after the original 1998 film, its 2001 sequel, and the third installment in 2007.
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