‘Rush Hour 4' revived after Trump urged Paramount Skydance to resurrect franchise, reports say

Group 1 - Paramount is reviving "Rush Hour 4" nearly two decades after the last installment, prompted by President Donald Trump's encouragement to rescue the stalled buddy cop movie series [1][2] - Paramount has secured funding for the film and established a distribution arrangement with Warner Bros. Discovery, which previously owned the franchise [2][3] - The first three "Rush Hour" films were global hits, earning over $850 million worldwide, but the new sequel faces challenges in a changed theatrical landscape where comedies have struggled [4] Group 2 - Trump's intervention in Hollywood has drawn criticism, as he aims to restore "classical masculinity" to studio filmmaking [5] - Paramount's revival of "Rush Hour" aligns with its goal to nearly double film output, targeting 15 films in 2026 and up to 18 by 2028 [5] - The timing coincides with a major industry shake-up, as Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix have submitted bids to acquire Warner Bros., which includes valuable franchises [6][7]