Rush Hour 4 is reportedly being pitched to various studios in an attempt to get the project off the ground. The fourth installment in the franchise, starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, could also mark controversial director Brett Ratner’s return to filmmaking.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, executives at Lionsgate held a meeting to discuss Rush Hour 4 in July 2024. While other franchises, such as John Wick, have experienced success with new additions, the problem with getting the action comedy off the ground is the potential involvement of Ratner, who directed the first three Rush Hour movies. Sources familiar with the talks said the filmmaker, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, was part of the pitch for the fourth installment.
Ratner, who faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment in 2017, has denied the claims and was not charged for the alleged crimes. However, after getting dropped by his agency, the filmmaker has been absent from Hollywood for several years. Due to the controversy, Warner Bros. allowed Rush Hour 4 to be licensed elsewhere. Despite the freedom to house the project elsewhere, studios like Paramount and Sony passed on the film after hearing that Ratner would be involved.
Ratner had a thriving career in the ’90s and 2000s as a music video director and studio filmmaker, hitting it big with the first Rush Hour movie in 1998. He went on to direct the next two films in the series, which collectively made over $500 million at the domestic box office. However, after detailed accusations of sexual misconduct were leveled against him by six women, including Natasha Henstridge and Olivia Munn, no one wanted to work with him.
For Rush Hour 4 to move forward, it would need domestic and international distribution partners. Although the involved parties wouldn’t have ownership of the rights to the previous Rush Hour films, they would acquire a new installment in a well-established franchise, while Warner Bros. would receive a licensing fee. While Tucker and Chan have expressed interest in a fourth Rush Hour movie, their involvement has not been made official.
In 2019, the pair almost broke the internet after posting a photo together on Instagram, hinting at a reunion for a potential reunion for their characters Yan Naing Lee and James Carter. However, Chan’s management company, the JC Group, quickly debunked speculation. In Dec. 2022, Chan backtracked once more by confirming that Rush Hour 4 was in development. “We’re talking about Rush Hour 4 right now,” he said during an appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, CBR
