Paramount has officially greenlit Rush Hour 4, with Donald Trump reportedly playing a key role in securing the film's release. The news comes despite Brett Ratner, the director of the new installment, having faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement.
Ratner had struggled to find financing for the film, which stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, but Trump lobbied on his behalf to friend Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of Paramount Skydance. The studio has now secured funding for the film and agreed to a distribution deal with Warner Bros.
The news has been met with skepticism by some in the industry, with many questioning why Ratner was given another chance after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. Trump's involvement in the film's production is also seen as a sign of his efforts to promote old-fashioned masculinity in Hollywood culture.
Ratner has faced several high-profile allegations of misconduct, including an accusation from Melanie Kohler, who alleged that he raped her at the home of Robert Evans. The two settled their dispute in 2018.
Despite Ratner's checkered past, Paramount is moving forward with Rush Hour 4, which will be released by Warner Bros. The film has the potential to gross millions worldwide, particularly given its proven track record from previous installments.
Critics have already expressed doubts about the film's viability, with one writer suggesting that the world may not need or want another installment in the franchise. Nevertheless, Rush Hour 4 is set to hit theaters on January 30th, and fans of the series are eagerly awaiting its release.
Ratner had struggled to find financing for the film, which stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, but Trump lobbied on his behalf to friend Larry Ellison, the largest shareholder of Paramount Skydance. The studio has now secured funding for the film and agreed to a distribution deal with Warner Bros.
The news has been met with skepticism by some in the industry, with many questioning why Ratner was given another chance after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. Trump's involvement in the film's production is also seen as a sign of his efforts to promote old-fashioned masculinity in Hollywood culture.
Ratner has faced several high-profile allegations of misconduct, including an accusation from Melanie Kohler, who alleged that he raped her at the home of Robert Evans. The two settled their dispute in 2018.
Despite Ratner's checkered past, Paramount is moving forward with Rush Hour 4, which will be released by Warner Bros. The film has the potential to gross millions worldwide, particularly given its proven track record from previous installments.
Critics have already expressed doubts about the film's viability, with one writer suggesting that the world may not need or want another installment in the franchise. Nevertheless, Rush Hour 4 is set to hit theaters on January 30th, and fans of the series are eagerly awaiting its release.
. Like, I get that he settled with Melanie Kohler, but 2018 was ages ago... shouldn't that be enough to keep his reputation in check? 
Still, if Trump's got a hand in securing funding and Larry Ellison's on board, maybe there's hope the film'll actually turn out decent. Wouldn't want Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker getting screwed over like that 
. some ppl r sayin that Ratner deserves a second chance but otherz r like "no way, dude" 
. and now they're just gonna release it w/ Warner Bros? sounds like a $$$ move 2 me 
. i mean, i know not everyone loves the Rush Hour franchise (i'm lookin at u Chris Tucker 
.
he got away with some serious stuff and now hes back in the spotlight because of trump's connections lol whats next? a movie about trump himself? 
. I mean, I get it, he's a big name and Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are attached to the project, but can't they see how this could be toxic for women in Hollywood? 
It's like, just because Trump is on board doesn't make everything okay 
. And what about the women who've accused Ratner of misconduct? Do we really need to revisit that trauma just for a paycheck? 
. Can't they find someone else to direct the thing? 
... I mean, come on Paramount! You're basically giving Brett Ratner a free pass after all those allegations 
... I don't get it. Is the $$ money that good? 
. And what's with the industry skepticism? Shouldn't we be holding filmmakers accountable for their actions? 
. like dont get me wrong, rush hour 4 can still be a sick movie but come on, how does one guy single-handedly fix the damage of a sex offender's past? lmao i guess some ppl r just more worried about the benjamins 
but come on! Brett Ratner's history is pretty checkered, you know? All these allegations of misconduct and he gets another chance at the helm of Rush Hour 4? It just seems like a pretty big risk for Paramount. And what's with Trump's involvement? I get that he's trying to promote old-school masculinity or whatever but it feels kinda tone-deaf to me 
. You'd think that would be a major red flag for anyone looking to greenlight a film project 
. And now Donald Trump is involved? Like what even is the criteria for this guy to just waltz in and influence decisions like this? 
. But at the same time, Jackie Chan is still the man 
and Chris Tucker's comedic genius is gonna carry this film no matter what 
. But for me, it's all about the movies, fam 
. Can't wait to see what Jackie and Chris bring to the table... or should I say, the car chase 
?
. Fingers crossed, or at least fingers crossed that the movie is more than just a cash-grab 
, not sure why Paramount would want to move forward with a guy who's had multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. But hey, it's Hollywood, I guess. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if Rush Hour 4 lives up to its potential 
And what's up with Trump's involvement? Trying to bring back old-school masculinity or just trying to stir up some drama? 