In a significant development for Hollywood, Paramount Pictures is poised to distribute Brett Ratner's "Rush Hour 4," following President Donald Trump's reported involvement.
The film had previously been sidelined due to allegations of sexual misconduct against Ratner, which emerged during the #MeToo movement. These allegations, reported by the Los Angeles Times in 2017, led Warner Bros. to sever its $450 million co-financing agreement with Ratner's production company. Ratner, who has consistently denied the accusations, has not produced a film in recent years.
As reported by Western Journal, Paramount Pictures is in the final stages of negotiations to distribute the film, according to an anonymous source familiar with the discussions. The studio is expected to handle distribution for a fee, without financing the project. This move comes after President Trump personally requested Paramount to take on "Rush Hour 4," as reported by Semafor.
The request follows Paramount's recent merger with Skydance, an $8 billion deal that required regulatory approval from the Trump administration. President Trump has expressed admiration for the studio's new chairman and CEO, David Ellison, who is the son of Larry Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter and Oracle's executive chairman.
The White House has not issued a comment on the matter as of Wednesday. Ratner, meanwhile, has been actively seeking a home for "Rush Hour 4" after Warner Bros., the distributor of the previous three films in the franchise, opted not to proceed with the project. The film is set to reunite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, continuing the action-comedy series that began in 1998, with sequels released in 2001 and 2007.
In addition to "Rush Hour 4," Ratner has successfully produced a documentary on First Lady Melania Trump. Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios acquired the documentary for a reported $40 million, with a theatrical release scheduled for January 30.
The Western Journal notes that this Associated Press story has not been reviewed prior to publication, and may contain editorial bias or not meet their usual editorial standards. Nonetheless, it is shared with readers as a service.
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