Brett Ratner brought together the fastest hands in the East, Jackie Chan, and the biggest mouth in the West, Chris Tucker, for his film Rush Hour. When Chan and Tucker first met, they both had reservations about the other. However, they went on to become the iconic buddy cop duo, and are set to return for a fourth planned movie, which is in its early stages of development. One behind-the-scene footage from Rush Hour shows how quickly the two actors moved past their differences.
Ratner was determined to cast Jackie Chan as Chief Inspector Lee in the film. He flew to South Africa, where Chan was filming Who Am I?, to pitch the idea. Chris Tucker ended up taking the role of Detective Carter after Martin Lawrence and Wesley Snipes passed on the role.
Also Read: Jackie Chan’s Biological Parents, Who Abandoned Him as a Kid, Were Legendary Badasses
Jackie Chan And Chris Tucker’s BTS Fun Shows Why They Are The Iconic Duo
Chris Tucker was excited to be partnered with Jackie Chan for Rush Hour. Chan was a big action star in the Asian region, and his 1995 film Rumble in the Bronx made him popular among Western audiences. However, when Tucker and Chan met for the first time, they had a few issues to discuss with director Brett Ratner.
Tucker had concerns about the Police Story actor’s proficiency in English, while Chan was uncomfortable with Tucker’s rapid-fire Atlanta-style English. This initial clash of characters became a defining element that endeared them to audiences throughout the film series. In a behind-the-scenes video from the first film, Tucker’s phone rings in the middle of a take. Both actors turn the filming interruption into a hilarious blooper.
As Tucker picks up his ringing phone, Jackie Chan funnily quips, “Say hello to your Dad”. Tucker tries to explain to the caller that he was in the middle of filming a scene, adding that he was looking “Jackie Chan dead in his eye”. Meanwhile, Chan teases Tucker, asking, “Are you professional? We’re filming and you turn on your phone?” The caller demands Tucker give the phone to Chan, but Chan humorously scolds the caller, saying, “We’re filming right now. You sorry? You waste our film.”
When Chris Tucker’s phone rang while shooting “Rush Hour” pic.twitter.com/uKcRyIFzYE
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) January 24, 2024
The hilarious exchange is just one among the numerous other fun interactions between the actors throughout the three movies. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Chris Tucker revealed that, during the first Rush Hour movie, Chan would send a gift to his trailer every day. Jackie Chan too was happy working with The Fifth Element actor, however, he was not very fond of his poor English in the first film.
Rush Hour 4 – When Will Jackie Chan And Chris Tucker Return For A Reunion?
Jackie Chan confirmed the talks about a fourth Rush Hour film when he attended the Red Sea Film Festival in 2022 (via Collider). Later, Chris Tucker spoke about the film to Audacy’s V-103, stating that he “loves working with Jackie Chan” and added that he was excited about “some new stuff” in the film. Without spilling much about the film’s plot, Tucker shared, “You’re going to see a lot of good stuff coming, but it’s going to be on a whole other level.”
The only confirmed returning members for the film are Chan and Tucker. It is unlikely that Brett Ratner will return to the project, considering he emigrated to Israel in 2023 due to the allegations of s*xual misconduct and harassment in 2017. Warner Bros. will be searching for new directors who can create a movie that resonates with the critics as well, especially since the last two films received mixed reviews.
The fourth film is yet to announce a start of production date. The three Rush Hour films have combinedly collected $849 million at the box office. The films are now available for rent on AppleTV+.
