Hollywood Melts Down Over Trump-Backed ‘Rush Hour 4’

Paramount Pictures has confirmed that director Brett Ratner’s Rush Hour 4 is officially in development. Sources say the project gained new momentum after former President Donald Trump encouraged producers to revisit the hit buddy-cop franchise. As expected, not everyone in the entertainment press is happy about the decision, including MovieWeb who called the development “troubling,” expressing concern over past allegations involving Ratner as well as President Trump’s open support of the film. The outrage in Hollywood circles over this news demonstrates just how delicate and effeminate the entertainment industry has become.

The new film is expected to bring back Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in their original roles as Hong Kong Detective Inspector Lee and LAPD Detective James Carter. The series follows the two mismatched officers as they chase criminals across continents in a mix of action and comedy. Both actors have said for years that they were open to making another sequel, and Chan recently told fans that a fourth film was closer than many realized. Industry reports say Paramount will handle distribution for Rush Hour 4 while Warner Bros. will support the project through its New Line division, which produced the earlier films. Development reportedly stalled several times over the years, but insiders credit Trump’s support for giving the project fresh life.

Ratner, who directed the original Rush Hour in 1998, is also completing work on Melania, a $40 million documentary about First Lady Melania Trump that he directed and produced. His first Rush Hour earned $244 million worldwide, while its sequels, released in 2001 and 2007, made $347 million and $258 million.

Melania is scheduled for release in theaters worldwide this January and will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime. The documentary follows Mrs. Trump as she, in the words of the production notes, “orchestrates inauguration plans, navigates the complexities of the White House transition, and reenters public life with her family. With exclusive footage capturing critical meetings, private conversations, and never-before-seen environments, Melania showcases Mrs. Trump’s return to one of the world’s most powerful roles.”

There is little doubt Hollywood will melt down over the Melania film as well.

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