Buddy-Cop Sequel Revived Amid Backlash Over Director's Return and Oval Office Influence in Tinseltown

November 25, 2025 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a surprising fusion of politics and pop culture, President Donald Trump has flexed his influence beyond the Beltway, reportedly strong-arming Paramount Pictures into reviving the long-dormant "Rush Hour" franchise with a fourth installment. The move, which secures a theatrical release for the buddy-cop comedy starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, comes after Trump personally lobbied billionaire ally Larry Ellison and Paramount's new leadership to dust off the script and bring back original director Brett Ratner.

The announcement, first detailed by Semafor and corroborated by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, marks a rare instance of a sitting U.S. president meddling in Hollywood dealmaking. Trump, a self-proclaimed aficionado of '80s and '90s action flicks, has long championed films like the original "Rush Hour" trilogy — which grossed over $850 million worldwide — as exemplars of "old-fashioned masculinity" and unapologetic entertainment. Insiders say the president, fresh off his second-term inauguration, views the sequel as part of a broader push to inject raucous, crowd-pleasing comedies back into theaters, potentially alongside revivals like the Jean-Claude Van Damme classic "Bloodsport."

Paramount, recently acquired by Skydance Media in a deal spearheaded by David Ellison — son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison — will handle distribution on a flat-fee basis, shielding the studio from marketing and financing risks in a post-pandemic box office wary of mid-budget comedies. The arrangement bypasses earlier hesitations from studios like Warner Bros. Discovery, which balked at associating with Ratner due to 2017 sexual misconduct allegations that derailed his career — claims he has vehemently denied. Ratner, who helmed all three prior "Rush Hour" entries, has since reemerged with a $40 million Amazon MGM Studios documentary on First Lady Melania Trump, set for release on January 30, 2026, chronicling her final 20 days before the inauguration.

Trump's intervention reportedly unfolded during private discussions with Ellison, a key financial backer whose ties to the president run deep. "The president sees this as a way to create jobs and bring back the fun, inclusive energy of those Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker team-ups," a source close to the negotiations told Semafor, noting Trump's affinity for the films' blend of high-octane action and cultural humor. Chan, now 71, confirmed last year he's open to returning, while Tucker — absent from lead roles since 2007 — could reunite with his co-star for the first time in nearly two decades.

The development has sparked a firestorm online and in entertainment circles. Supporters hail it as a nostalgic coup that could revitalize Paramount's slate, which aims to ramp up from eight annual releases to 18 by 2028. Critics, however, decry it as an overreach of executive power into private enterprise, with some accusing Trump of favoritism toward Ratner amid the #MeToo era's lingering scars. "This isn't governance; it's a fanboy wishlist," tweeted film critic Alison Willmore, echoing concerns that the sequel's "problematic" undertones — including dated stereotypes — clash with modern sensibilities.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the backlash in a briefing Tuesday, framing the project as "pure entertainment" aligned with Trump's vision for American cultural revival. "The president loves winners, and 'Rush Hour' is a winner. Jobs for actors, crew, and yes, even directors who deserve a second chance," she said.

As scripting advances under Ratner's helm, questions swirl about potential cameos — could Trump himself pop up in a walk-on role, à la his "Home Alone 2" appearance? — and the film's viability in a landscape dominated by superhero spectacles. Yet for fans pining for Lee's quips and Chan's stunts, the Oval Office's unlikely assist feels like a plot twist straight out of the franchise itself.