Do you catch the words? Does it actually come out as intended?
It seems President Trump is actively encouraging his wealthy associate, Larry Ellison, to bring back the Rush Hour franchise, featuring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. This push comes as Ellison’s team gets ready for a bidding contest with Warner Bros. Discovery, which currently owns the rights.
According to someone familiar with the discussions, Trump has been quite insistent on reviving not just his beloved cop flick but also various comedies and action films from the ’80s and ’90s.
Reportedly, this move aligns with President Trump’s approval of a significant bid from Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Ellison, who co-founded Oracle, holds a notable share in Paramount, where his son, David Ellison, serves as CEO.
The Rush Hour films, especially the first three, combined physical comedy with martial arts, featuring numerous jokes that touched upon racial stereotypes.
Brett Ratner, who directed the series, is known for other successful films like X-Men: The Last Stand and The Revenant, though he faced professional exile following accusations of sexual misconduct from six women in 2017.
Despite this, he has managed to re-enter the film scene, notably by producing a $40 million documentary about former First Lady Melania Trump earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Arthur Sarkisian, a producer for Rush Hour, is now leading a production company responsible for The Man You Don’t Know—a documentary featuring interviews with Trump’s children and granddaughter. This film premiered in Florida at Mar-a-Lago, coinciding with Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Both the White House and Paramount have not responded to requests for comments on this matter.
Trump’s efforts to revive “Rush Hour” seem part of a broader strategy to reinstate aspects of pop culture from the late 20th century. According to reports, he has a fondness for action-oriented sports films like Bloodsport and has welcomed action stars like Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson to the White House.
In fact, he has plans to host a UFC event on the White House lawn, as mentioned in reports about Paramount potentially taking on broadcasting.
Film producer Dallas Sonnier suggested that Trump might ignite a trend of classic male-led films characterized by heroes who possess traditional masculine traits—confidence, bravery, and perhaps a hint of arrogance, but still grounded in honor and duty.
And of course, expect plenty of action—explosions, gunfights, and high-speed chases are likely in the mix!
The original Rush Hour, which debuted in 1998, was immensely popular. Yet, enthusiasm for the series seemed to dwindle significantly by the time the third film was released in 2007, receiving negative reviews.
After allegations of wrongdoing against Ratner surfaced in 2017, Warner Bros. Discovery cut ties with him. Although the franchise can be licensed to other studios, none have opted for it up to this point.
Interestingly, a reason behind Trump’s affinity for Rush Hour might be linked to the fact that neither Chan nor Tucker has publicly denounced him, unlike many other Hollywood figures.
After Trump’s first election win in 2016, Chan urged Americans to “give Trump a chance to change America and try to change the world,” expressing faith in his business acumen.
Tucker, while remaining mostly neutral during a 2018 interview, did express hope that Trump would succeed, saying, “I want him to be successful and I want him to do the right thing.”
