Brett Ratner Heads to China With Trump Administration to Scout 'Rush Hour 4' Filming Locations

Director Brett Ratner is set to travel to China alongside President Donald Trump as part of an official U.S. delegation, with the mission of scouting filming locations for the forthcoming fourth installment of the Rush Hour franchise.

The 57-year-old filmmaker, who recently helmed the Melania Trump documentary, will join the presidential trip scheduled for May 12 through May 15, when Trump, 79, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A representative for Ratner confirmed the arrangement to The New York Post.

The delegation encompasses several high-profile figures, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Larry Fink, among others. The Rush Hour 4 project is slated to bring back both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in their iconic roles from the beloved action-comedy franchise.

Trump has been instrumental in pushing for the fourth Rush Hour film to move forward, working with billionaire associate Larry Ellison, who holds the position of largest shareholder at Paramount Skydance. The studio landscape has recently shifted with Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery announcing a $111 billion merger, which will consolidate the Rush Hour franchise under the Paramount banner.

Ratner's work on the Melania documentary marked a significant return to major filmmaking after facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment from women in 2017 during the height of the #MeToo movement.