After a much-excited Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan shot down the rumors of Rush Hour 4 through his management company as they posted a statement disputing the idea. Sadly, all their fans and viewers can do is hope that this is a temporary decision since it was already a planned production just after the release of Rush Hour 3. Rush Hour was released in 1998 directed by Brett Ratner and stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as mismatched police officers who must rescue the Chinese consul's kidnapped daughter.
The Rush Hour grossed over $244 million worldwide and the film's success led to two sequels: Rush Hour 2 (2001) and Rush Hour 3 (2007). However, in the statement, the management company relayed that the information that Jackie Chan will do Rush Hour 4 and The Karate Kid 2 is entirely false. A certain Mr. Esmond Ren, a professional in motion picture industry, apparently have misappropriated his personal WeChat and email accounts by some infringing parties and has released false information concerning the hiring of the crew, casting, audition and other matters in connection with the movies Rush Hour 4 and The Karate Kid 2.
Thus the management company claimed that details regarding the film Rush Hour 4 and Karate Kid 2 from this unreliable source are false. They will also uphold the rights and interests of Jackie Chan by punishing those who have falsely spread the news. Clearly, the official statement did not directly address the recent status update of Chris Tucker as he poses with Jackie Chan as they each hold up four fingers.
Chris Tucker rekindled his friendship with Rush Hour co-star Jackie Chan as he posted a photo of him in remembrance of his 65th birthday. Fans were quick to interpret that this may be a teaser for the upcoming movie. It is also good to take note that Chris Tucker himself was giving an update on the progress of Rush Hour 4 in late January.
Recalling Chris Tucker's words "It's not in pre-production. We're working on a few things [for] the script. Jackie wants to do it. I want to do it. The studio wants to do it," he said during the Winging It podcast, hosted by NBA stars Vince Carter and Kent Bazemore. "We're trying to get it together. It looks like it's getting together right," Tucker added.
Furthermore, Jackie Chan has already given hope for Rush Hour 4 2 years ago saying "[It's coming] next year. For the last seven years, we've been turning down the script, turning down the script. Yesterday, we just agreed." The Hong Kong martial artist/actor hoped to start the film by 2018 and quips in "if Chris Tucker agrees" to do it. "It's about [having] time to make it," Chan explained. "Otherwise, Rush Hour 4, we're all old men. I tell Chris Tucker, 'Before we get old, please do Rush Hour 4."
And it seems the question has been clearly answered by Chris Tucker however, premature publication of information might be the issue that made the management who handles Jackie Chan to release the official statement. Still, it is best to rely on official announcements from the production team themselves and the details right from the actor's accounts. Chris Tucker's film career boosted at the emergence of Rush Hour and continues on to some projects like Silver Linings Playbook in 2012 and Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk in 2016.
