Rush Hour 4 moves forward with location scouting in China as director Brett Ratner joined President Donald Trump’s delegation to the country in mid-May 2026. Ratner, who helmed the original 1998 film, is preparing for production on the long-awaited sequel that will reunite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in their iconic roles.
Quick Facts
- Brett Ratner traveled to China as part of Trump’s delegation from May 12-15, 2026, to scout filming locations for Rush Hour 4
- Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are expected to reprise their roles as Chief Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter
- Production is planned to take place across China, Africa, and Saudi Arabia
- The sequel has been in development limbo for years before Trump reportedly lobbied for its greenlight with Paramount Skydance last November
The action-comedy franchise, which last saw a theatrical installment in 2007 with Rush Hour 3, has faced multiple production delays. Initial salary negotiations stalled the project in spring 2026, with reports indicating Chan and Tucker turned down offers of $8 million each—significantly less than the $20 million they earned for the third film.
Ratner’s involvement in scouting came shortly after he completed the documentary Melania for Amazon MGM Studios earlier this year. A spokesperson for the 56-year-old filmmaker confirmed to The New York Post that he would be using his time in China to identify production locations for the film, with shooting expected to begin later in 2026.
Rush Hour 4 moves forward with location scouting in China
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Trump previously intervened in the project’s development, lobbying billionaire Larry Ellison of Paramount Skydance to greenlight the sequel. Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount in a $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery in February placed the Rush Hour franchise under Paramount Skydance, clearing the path for production to move forward.
Sources
- People.com — Reported Brett Ratner joining Trump’s China delegation on May 12, 2026, to scout Rush Hour 4 locations with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker expected to return
- The Source Magazine — Confirmed Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker turned down initial $8 million offers, with filming delayed to September 2026 at the earliest
- Variety — Reported Ratner heading to China to scout locations for the film
- Newsweek — Covered Ratner’s location scouting efforts in China for the long-gestating sequel
