Paramount is understood to be closing on a deal with Warner Bros to distribute the upcoming fourth instalment in the Rush Hour franchise to be directed by disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner.
The production would reunite Jackie Chan and Chris Rock, who starred for Warner Bros’ New Line division and Ratner in the first three entries. The action comedy franchise has grossed almost $900m at the worldwide box office since 1998.
According to reports, Paramount will receive a flat distribution fee and will not finance or produce Rush Hour 4. After New Line made the rights to the fourth film available, Tarak Ben Ammar is said to have acquired them through his Eagle Pictures and has teamed up with franchise producer Arthur Sarkissian.
A fourth Rush Hour feature would mark Ratner’s first narrative feature since allegations of sexual impropriety by multiple women emerged in 2017, which he denied.
The story takes on a larger dimension considering the potential relationship between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). Paramount made a fourth bid last week to buy WBD, alongside Comcast and Netflix, and the studio’s new CEO David Ellison and his father, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, are on good terms with US president Donald Trump.
According to several unconfirmed reports, Trump himself stepped in several months ago to ask the Ellisons to revive the franchise. Ratner has directed a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump that Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40m for. Melania will open theatrically on January 30 before debuting on Prime Video.
Neither Paramount nor Warner Bros commented.
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