In a surprising collision of politics and entertainment, former President Donald Trump is reportedly using his influence to push for a new instalment in the beloved Rush Hour film series. This development comes eighteen years after the release of Rush Hour 3, suggesting a potential revival of the action-comedy franchise.
The Push for a New Rush Hour
According to a report from Semafor, President Trump is personally involved in advocating for a fourth Rush Hour film. The publication, citing a source familiar with the discussions, claims that Trump has personally pressed Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to greenlight the project. Ellison, a known friend and supporter of Trump, holds a significant position in the entertainment industry as the owner of Paramount Global.
The connection deepens as Paramount, run by Ellison's son David, is reportedly making a bid for the wider Warner Bros. Discovery catalogue. This catalogue includes New Line Cinema, the original studio behind the Rush Hour films. The president is said to be offering creative input on potential projects, with a particular focus on resurrecting this specific buddy-cop series, allegedly as part of a broader cultural agenda promoting high-octane action-comedies.
This is not the first time a sequel has been hinted at. Jackie Chan confirmed in 2022 that a script for a fourth film was in development, mentioning at the Red Sea Film Festival that he was scheduled to meet with a director to discuss it.
Complicated Histories and New Projects
The original Rush Hour trilogy, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, was directed by Brett Ratner. However, Ratner's career was significantly impacted after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct emerged in 2017, leading Warner Bros. to sever ties with him.
In a notable return to filmmaking, Ratner's first project since the allegations is an upcoming documentary on First Lady Melania Trump. Reports indicate that Amazon Prime Video acquired the rights to this documentary for a staggering $40 million (£30.5 million).
Trump's Broader Film Revival Agenda
Donald Trump is no stranger to sharing his opinions on cinema, and his interest in reviving Rush Hour appears to be part of a larger pattern. His well-documented favourite films provide clues to other franchises he might seek to resurrect.
Bloodsport, the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme action film, is reportedly Trump's all-time favourite. A 1997 New Yorker article described him fast-forwarding through the plot to get to the fight scenes, declaring it an incredible movie.
He has also frequently praised Citizen Kane, often comparing himself to its protagonist, Charles Foster Kane. Trump has commented on the film's themes of wealth and isolation, though he has faced criticism for overlooking its deeper messages about loss.
Other films on his list of favourites include the classic western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, the iconic Godfather series—from which he has famously quoted—and the historical romance Gone with the Wind, which he publicly mentioned during his criticism of the Oscar-winning film Parasite.
Neither the White House nor Paramount has issued any public statement regarding the potential for a fourth Rush Hour film. For now, the prospect remains a fascinating example of how political influence might shape future entertainment.
