Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker may well return for Rush Hour 4 – but director Brett Ratner appears to be the stumbling block.
It seems as though since around 2016, the Rush Hour trilogy of movies – starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker – have been billed as Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour trilogy. Take a look at the US Blu-ray box art for proof of that.
On and off since the release of the pretty crappy Rush Hour 3 in 2007, there’s been talk of a Rush Hour 4, with occasional, sporadic interviews suggesting that Brett Ratner, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker have all been keen.
The significant issue has been the serious sexual allegations that have been aimed at Brett Ratner. We’re going to cede to the Wikipedia list, given there are numerous accusations against Ratner, that you can read about here.
The Hollywood Reporter has published a story that says a Rush Hour 4 project has been shopped around many major Hollywood studios, but that it appears to come with a condition: the involvement of Brett Ratner. He’s not worked in Hollywood since the accusations against him first surfaced, and this, perhaps, was being seen as his way back into the system. The last we heard about him in a movie, though, was a joke at his expense in Long Shot.
It’s not confirmed that Ratner was being pitched as the director of the new film (nor was that being ruled out), but it does seem that he would have had some involvement. That’s been enough to scare off studios thus far, leaving Rush Hour 4 in limbo. Given the recent success of franchise revivals Top Gun Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, otherwise it presumably would have been relatively plain sailing to the screen.
The Hollywood Reporter did contact Ratner, who said its query was filled with “gross inaccuracies”, and declined further comment. He has denied the accusations against him.
Which all leaves Rush Hour 4 stuck for the time being. Should things get moving in the future, we’ll duly report the news. We’re good like that.
