Is Rush Hour 4 Still On? Why Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are Holding Off

• Primary Subject: Rush Hour 4 Production Status
• Key Update: Production of Rush Hour 4 has been delayed to at least September after stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker rejected the studio's initial $8 million salary offers.
• Status: In Development (stalled by contract negotiations)
• Last Verified: April 27, 2026
• Quick Answer: Rush Hour 4 is currently on hold as Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker reportedly rejected low-ball salary offers, stalling production until a new deal is reached.

For nearly two decades, the prospect of reuniting Chief Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter has been the "holy grail" of action-comedy rumors. While the long-awaited fourth installment of the Rush Hour installment has been greenlit, production is currently stalled as stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker and the studio are negotiating terms.

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker Return to Rush Hour 4 on One Condition

Credit: New Line Cinema

As much as fans are looking forward to reuniting the comedy duo on the big screens, Rush Hour 4 is on hold until Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker land a better offer.

According to Puck News, the duo reportedly passed on the early offers for Rush Hour 4 due to being offered around $8 million each, which is far below the $20 million minimum they earned from the previous film, Rush Hour 3, in 2007.

This comes after U.S. President Trump expressed his approval and pressure to revive Rush Hour, one of his favorite franchises, specifically the "raucous comedies and action movies from the '80s and '90s." Trump reportedly appealed to Paramount to let Brett Ratner, who helmed Prime Video's Melania documentary piece, get involved in the fourth installment.

Filming was initially supposed to kick off this summer in China, Africa, and Saudi Arabia, only to be delayed to September at the earliest, according to multiple sources from the outlet. However, things are not looking good with Paramount allegedly lowballing the stars.

Does Rush Hour 4 Actually Have Major Budget Problems?

Credit: New Line Cinema

Beyond the headline-grabbing salary standoffs, the production is grappling with fundamental questions regarding its financial viability. While the project is reportedly operating under a targeted budget of $115 million to $120 million, industry insiders suggest that this funding is far from secured.

Chan and Tucker's rejection of being offered such a deal is pretty much already a red flag to the project, after all, signalling that the studio may not have fully locked in the necessary capital to move forward.

While reports highly suggest that President Trump has personally nudged the production toward approval, the external political support is proving to be a poor substitute for their more urgent financing structure.

Ultimately, Paramount and the production team are walking a tightrope. They are attempting to revive a dormant franchise with a director facing significant industry controversy, all while trying to satisfy the two iconic stars to protect their market value.

Whether this "perfect storm" of budget woes and casting uncertainty can be resolved before the September start date remains the biggest question in Hollywood. Stay tuned for more updates.

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