Deadline reports that Paramount Pictures is officially developing Rush Hour 4. This decision comes after Donald Trump personally intervened and lobbied directly for the film’s financing to his friend and major supporter, billionaire Larry Ellison. Director Brett Ratner had great difficulty getting the project funded. This growth occurs in the wake of the film sector evermore betting on franchise films and IP recycling.
Brett Ratner, who directed a $40 million documentary about Melania Trump for Amazon MGM Studios, has been working to revive the beloved “Rush Hour” franchise. The first three films in the series have together grossed more than $850 million worldwide, proving it to be a major commercial force. Ratner’s history hangs over his attempts to reenter Hollywood. He largely removed himself from the public eye, retreating from the industry after a cascade of sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo movement in 2017 forced him to resign.
In a fortuitous twist, Ratner’s connections to Donald Trump became key. They assisted him in obtaining the critical financing he required. It’s no coincidence that Trump has kept nice ties with both Ratner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Notably, Trump personally lobbied Ellison, the largest individual shareholder of Paramount Skydance. He accomplished all of this in the name of “Rush Hour 4.”
Despite Ratner’s legal battles, including a lawsuit against Melanie Kohler, a former employee of Endeavor Talent Agency who accused him of “preying” on her, Paramount has successfully secured funding for the film. The studio has further signed a global distribution deal with Warner Bros for the new film.
An unmistakable note of skepticism still hangs over the current push to revive this zombie franchise. Peter Bradshaw, a prominent film reviewer, posed the question:
“Does the world really need or want Rush Hour 4?”
This skepticism is reminiscent of the recent worries over Hollywood’s overreliance on known franchises. Matthew Belloni, another industry commentator, remarked on the implications of Ratner’s return to filmmaking:
“Get ready for the dumbest possible state-controlled media.”
Meanwhile, production has been getting underway on “Rush Hour 4.” For now, we can only wait and see how audiences respond to the movie and to its director’s troubling history. Paramount’s faith in the project continued with the initial announcement of a sequel shows great confidence in the project’s lasting popularity.