Donald Trump. Elon Musk. Tim Cook. And Brett Ratner?
Yes, the “Rush Hour” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” auteur is reportedly hitching a ride with President Trump and his delegation of business and technology moguls as they make the trek to China for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping. Ratner, who directed the documentary “Melania,” will be on hand to scout locations and prepare for production on “Rush Hour 4,” which he plans to shoot in the country, according to the South China Morning Post. The “Rush Hour” franchise is said to be a favorite of Trump’s, with the commander-in-chief reportedly personally requesting that Paramount revive the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker buddy cop series.
Trump is looking to improve relations with Beijing, which have been bruised by a global trade war and the conflict in the Middle East. Along with Musk, the head of Tesla, and Apple chief Cook, he will be flanked by a group that includes Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock; Dina Powell McCormick, president and vice chair of Meta; Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone; Michael Miebach, president of Mastercard; and Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing.
Ratner was one of Hollywood’s biggest hitmakers, directing the likes of “Red Dragon,” “The Family Man” and “Tower Heist.” In 2017, his reputation was damaged when multiple women accused him of sexual assault and harassment. Ratner denies the allegations.
“Melania,” a look at First Lady Melania Trump in the days leading up to her husband’s second inauguration, was picked up by Amazon for $40 million, a massive sum for a documentary that led to criticism the tech and media company had overpaid to curry favor with the president. It went on to gross $16 million globally, making it a money loser. Amazon has maintained that its theatrical performance tells only part of the story, citing its reception on its Prime Video steaming platform as evidence that it was a success. A lot is riding on “Rush Hour 4,” as it marks Ratner’s first feature film since scandal derailed his Hollywood career.
A spokesperson for Ratner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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