Trump pushes Larry Ellison to revive ‘Rush Hour’ – Business News
Do you perceive the phrases popping out of his mouth?
President Trump is reportedly pushing his billionaire ally Larry Ellison to revive the “Rush Hour” franchise starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker — assuming the Ellison household succeeds in the bidding battle for the film collection’ license holder Warner Bros. Discovery.
The president has personally pressed Ellison to convey back his favourite buddy-cop flick, together with different boisterous comedies and motion films of the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, a particular person accustomed to the talks advised Semafor.
The Nineties buddy-cop comedy “Rush Hour” stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
The transfer comes as Trump has smiled on Paramount Skydance’s bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery in a megadeal, as The Post first reported. Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, has a huge stake in Paramount and his son David Ellison is its CEO.
“Rush Hour” one via three mixes bodily comedy with martial arts abilities and consists of a quantity of jokes about racial stereotypes.
The franchise’s director Brett Ratner – who additionally helmed hits like “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “The Revenant” – was shunned from Hollywood after six ladies accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017.
But he has since clawed his method back into the movie industry, spending months earlier this yr shadowing First Lady Melania Trump for a $40 million Amazon documentary about her life.
“Rush Hour” producer Arthur Sarkissian now runs the manufacturing company behind “The Man You Don’t Know,” a glowing documentary about Trump that includes interviews with some of his kids and his granddaughter, Kai Trump.
The film premiered at Mar-a-Lago, Fla., during Trump’s 2024 presidential marketing campaign.
The president has personally pressed Larry Ellison to revive the franchise, in accordance to a report. Nathan Howard – Pool by way of CNP/Shutterstock
The White House and Paramount didn’t instantly reply to The Post’s requests for remark.
Trump’s “Rush Hour” marketing campaign is simply his newest attempt to revive Nineteen Eighties and Nineties popular culture, Semafor famous.
The president – a fan of sports-action movies like 1988’s “Bloodsport,” which starred Jean Claude Van Damme – has invited macho stars like actor Sylvester Stallone and boxer Mike Tyson to the White House.
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He is even planning to host a UFC battle on the White House garden, with Paramount because the broadcaster, in accordance to Variety.
Dallas Sonnier, a movie producer, advised Semafor that Trump would possibly usher in “a wave of classically male-driven movies with mentally tough, traditional, courageous, confident heroes. Maybe even a tad cocky, but dedicated to honor and duty.”
“Plus, of course, a few explosions, gun battles, helicopters, fistfights and car chases!”
Larry Ellison, whose son owns Paramount, seems on monitor to take over Warner Bros. Discovery.
The first installment of “Rush Hour,” launched in 1998, was a smash hit. But enthusiasm appeared to burn out by the third, dismally-reviewed installment in 2007, Semafor famous.
In 2017, Warner Bros. Discovery cut ties with Ratner after accusations of sexual misconduct towards him got here to mild.
The company allowed the franchise to be licensed to different studios, however none to this point have opted to accomplish that.
One issue that may endear “Rush Hour” to the commander-in-chief is that, not like many Trump-hating Hollywood stars, neither Chan nor Tucker have spoken out towards Trump, in accordance to Semafor.
While the 1998 “Rush Hour” movie was a smash hit, enthusiasm appeared to burn out by the third installment. New Line Cinema
After Trump’s first election win in 2016, Chan urged Americans to “give him a probability to strive to change America and change the world. He’s a businessman … I feel he is aware of how to deal with these varieties of issues.
During an interview with Piers Morgan in 2018, Tucker stayed largely mute on the subject, although he stated he “hopes [Trump] does good.”
“I want him to be successful, I want him to do the right thing,” the actor stated.
