‘Rush Hour 4’ gets a major release update, and we might have Donald Trump to thank for it
Paramount Pictures is making a surprising move that has caught Hollywood’s attention. Deadline confirms that the studio has struck a deal to distribute the next ‘Rush Hour’ film from director Brett Ratner. Paramount will handle the release on behalf of Warner Bros, earning a major percentage-based distribution fee in the process. The collaboration raises eyebrows not only because of the players involved, but because of its timing. David Ellison’s newly revamped Paramount is currently one of the contenders vying to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, a high-stakes corporate battle that has drawn interest from Netflix and Comcast as well.
With bids for WBD reportedly submitted just last week, this marks the first major joint project between the two companies since Ellison assumed control of the Melrose Avenue lot. What’s even more striking is that multiple studios reportedly passed on releasing the new sequel, including Warner Bros.’ own New Line Cinema. That’s the very label responsible for launching the ‘Rush Hour’ series in 1998 and shepherding it through two massively successful sequels in 2001 and 2007. The buddy-cop franchise starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker became a global box-office phenomenon, ultimately earning around $850 million worldwide.
Now, nearly two decades after the third film, both Chan and Tucker are said to be returning for 'Rush Hour 4.' Ratner’s participation may also spark renewed conversation. The filmmaker retreated from the spotlight after actress Melanie Kohler accused him of sexual assault in 2017. Ratner denied the allegation and filed a defamation lawsuit, which both parties settled in 2018. Since then, he has taken steps back into the industry, including a recently completed documentary on former First Lady Melania Trump for Amazon MGM Studios, slated to reach theaters on January 30, 2026.
The push to revive ‘Rush Hour’ has been the subject of behind-the-scenes discussions for months. A Semafor report published on Monday claimed that Donald Trump privately encouraged the Ellison family to resurrect the franchise. Meanwhile, trade outlets revealed last August that Ratner was formally attached to direct and produce the fourth installment, and that the project was being shopped around when New Line allowed the rights to move elsewhere. Veteran producer Tarak Ben Ammar ultimately retained the rights through his Eagle Pictures banner, and partnered with Arthur Sarkissian, who produced the original trilogy.
With Paramount stepping in, the franchise’s comeback lands at a meaningful moment for theatrical comedy. After years of studios deprioritizing big-screen laughs, the box office has recently shown real appetite for action-comedy pairings. Sony demonstrated this with back-to-back hits: ‘Bad Boys for Life’ in 2020 and ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ in 2024, which together earned more than $830 million worldwide. Their success proved that audiences are still willing to show up for familiar faces and dependable genre comfort. Meanwhile, no release date has been announced yet.
