Will a ‘Rush Hour’ Sequel Resurrect Brett Ratner?

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Will a ‘Rush Hour’ Sequel Resurrect Brett Ratner?

As a seasoned moviegoer with a keen eye for cinematic history, I must say that the prospect of a new Rush Hour film is both exhilarating and troubling. On one hand, the franchise, with its iconic duo Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, has always brought us laughter and action in equal measure. On the other, the potential involvement of Brett Ratner, whose career took a significant hit due to allegations of misconduct, leaves a bitter taste.

During a regular decision-making meeting held in July, executives at Lionsgate convened. Unlike the usual discussions, this time they were considering an unconventional project: none other than Rush Hour 4, the long-discussed sequel to the action comedy franchise. Under different circumstances, such a proposal could be appealing for Lionsgate, as it seeks to expand its franchises along with its John Wick series; or any studio aiming to leverage nostalgia and familiar intellectual property by tapping into the audience’s fond memories.

However, taking on the film could involve collaborating with Brett Ratner, a franchise filmmaker, who was mentioned as a possible director and producer for this project, although he has been absent from Hollywood since 2017 due to accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment.

Currently, Ratner vigorously refutes all accusations of sexual misconduct, and no formal charges have been filed against him. His agency has dropped him, and he hasn’t directed a film since then. When contacted about the possibility of directing Rush Hour 4 and his potential involvement, Ratner responded that the inquiry was riddled with “unfounded inaccuracies” and declined to offer further comment.

According to various reports from sources like The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros., which historically distributed the Rush Hour films produced by their New Line Cinema division, had previously granted the rights for Rush Hour 4 to be produced elsewhere. This decision is unexpected considering the series’ profitability for the studio. Tarak Ben Ammar, a seasoned executive whose recent projects include The Equalizer 3, currently holds the rights to produce Rush Hour 4 under his Eagle Pictures label. Known for running one of Italy’s largest production and distribution companies, Ben Ammar was previously involved in acquiring the Weinstein Company library. He is actively discussing potential partnerships regarding Rush Hour 4 with interested parties.

For quite some time, Ratner has endeavored to helm a fourth installment of the “Rush Hour” series. However, his participation in the project has been met with resistance by various studios, such as Paramount and Sony, who had previously been briefed about it. (A spokesperson for Ben Ammar refuted Ratner’s attachment to “Rush Hour 4”.)

The lead actors from the popular franchise, Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, are being considered for the upcoming project; however, it’s important to clarify that their involvement isn’t yet confirmed. Over the past few years, both Chan and Tucker have expressed interest in reprising their roles for the next installment of the Rush Hour series.

In the ’90s and 2000s, Ratner built a prosperous career as a director for music videos and studio films. However, it was his major breakthrough with the release of the first “Rush Hour” film in 1998 that truly put him on the map. He went on to direct the subsequent two movies, amassing a staggering total domestic box office gross of over $500 million across all three films.

Back in 2017, six women spoke out against Ratner, sharing stories of sexual misconduct in a report by the Los Angeles Times. Among these allegations were claims that actress Natasha Henstridge was forced into oral sex, and Olivia Munn asserted that the director exposed himself to her after she brought food to his trailer on set, an incident that occurred when she was just starting out as an actress.

In order for “Rush Hour 4” to be produced, it would require both domestic and international distribution partners. A possible domestic distributor might not have the library rights to the other “Rush Hour” movies, but any prospective buyer would acquire a self-contained sequel that’s part of an established franchise. In this arrangement, Warner Bros. would receive a licensing fee.

The possibility of a new Rush Hour film reflects broader patterns in Hollywood movie-making, where a studio’s intellectual property often becomes another studio’s potential franchise, and nostalgia proves profitable. Lately, a sequel to Warner Bros.’ title The Accountant, the action thriller starring Ben Affleck, has been acquired by Amazon MGM several years following Warner Bros.’ announcement of a sequel to the movie. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s new production company, Artists Equity, secured the rights for one sequel from Warner Bros., with the studio receiving an unspecified payment in return.

As a movie enthusiast who grew up playing Borderlands and fondly remembering The Fall Guy from my childhood, I must admit that I was genuinely looking forward to seeing these two films adaptations on the big screen. However, I can’t help but feel let down by this year’s box office performances of both Lionsgate’s Borderlands and Universal’s The Fall Guy. Despite shelling out hard-earned cash for a ticket, I found myself disappointed as Borderlands only managed to rake in a dismal $13 million domestically, while The Fall Guy, despite earning $92 million in North America, didn’t live up to the hype and excitement that surrounded it. It’s a real bummer for fans like me who were eagerly anticipating these movies, but I guess we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed for better adaptations in the future.

Unlike many films in the early summer lineup this year, the recent addition to the Bad Boys series, similar to the fame garnered by Rush Hour in the 90s and early 2000s, stood out as one of the few successes. Bad Boys 4 has grossed approximately $400 million at the global box office, with a substantial $200 million coming from domestic ticket sales.

Given the unpredictable nature of ticket sales in today’s Hollywood market, a movie project based on an existing intellectual property, such as Rush Hour 4, that partially reduces the financial risk, is quite appealing.

As of press time, it is unclear whether Lionsgate will be boarding the next installment.

I found this fascinating article in the August 21st edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. As a long-time movie enthusiast and someone who has followed the industry for years, I can confidently say that this publication is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of film. To stay up-to-date on all the latest news, gossip, and analysis, subscribe to The Hollywood Reporter today!

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2024-08-21 16:55