Under Trump’s Influence, 71-Year-Old Jackie Chan Returns with ‘Rush Hour 4’

[Financial News] News has emerged that the hit action series 'Rush Hour,' starring Jackie Chan, will return with a sequel nearly 20 years after its last installment. Reports suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump played a significant role in making this happen.
According to CNBC and other U.S. media outlets on the 25th (local time), film studio Paramount Skydance recently finalized a deal for the production and distribution of 'Rush Hour 4.'
It is reported that President Trump’s lobbying of his close friend and supporter, founder Larry Ellison, was a decisive factor in the process. Ellison, the founder of software company Oracle, is the father of David Ellison, the current CEO of Paramount Skydance.
As a result, 'Rush Hour' is moving forward with its fourth installment 18 years after the third film, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, who have starred since the first movie, expected to reprise their roles.
Released in 1998, 'Rush Hour' is an action-comedy film that humorously depicts Jackie Chan and Tucker as mismatched detectives solving cases together.
The 'Rush Hour' series has grossed a total of $850 million worldwide in ticket sales.
However, in 2017, director Brett Ratner faced a series of sexual harassment allegations from several actresses, which halted the franchise. Nonetheless, Ratner is reportedly set to return as director for the fourth film.
Ratner, who left the film industry in disgrace, made his way back to Hollywood last year after directing a documentary about President Trump and his wife, Melania Trump.
Meanwhile, while Jackie Chan and Tucker are expected to return as leads in 'Rush Hour 4,' some concerns have been raised. Jackie Chan is now 71 years old, and Tucker has not appeared in any major films since 2007.
The British daily The Guardian commented on Trump’s influence in the cultural sector, questioning, “Does the world really want ‘Rush Hour 4’?” and added, “A second Trump term seems poised to revive outdated masculinity in Hollywood.”
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter