Rush Hour 3

By: Development Heck
Date: Monday, November 21, 2005

Genre:
Comedy/Action/Sequel.

Studio:
New Line Cinema.

Production Company:
Unknown.

Project Phase:
Script.

Who's In It:
Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker.

Who's Making It:
Brett Ratner (Director); Jeff Nathanson (Screenwriter); Arthur Sarkissian, Roger Birnbaum, Jon Glickman, Jay Stern (Producer).

Premise:
Unknown.

Release Date:
2007.

Comments:
None.

Scoop Feedback:

June 25, 2003... Variety reports that comedian Chris Tucker is finally in talks with New Line Cinema about making a third RUSH HOUR movie. New Line has been wanting to get cranking on RH3 for a while now but Tucker and his co-star, Jackie Chan, and RUSH HOUR director Brett Ratner have all been too busy.

New Line wants Ratner to direct RH3 but he may work on the sequel to GET SHORTY, titled BE COOL, first if a deal can be reached. Contractually New Line owns Ratner; his next film has to be with them unless a deal can be made. New Line might do it if they can get something of benefit for RUSH HOUR 3. [Source: Variety.]

August 8, 2003... Reported earlier this week in the "online trades", today's Variety plays catch-up and tells the print world that RED DRAGON director Brett Ratner is in talks to helm AFTER THE SUNSET. That would put any plans for a RUSH HOUR 3 on-hold until after Ratner finishes work on the Pierce Brosnan film. It also means that development on the sequel to GET SHORTY, BE COOL, will cool down for a bit. [Source: Variety.]

March 15, 2004... Funnyman Chris Tucker is standing on the verge of making big bucks for coming back in a sequel to MONEY TALKS for New Line Cinema. Tucker stands to make $20 million dollars guaranteed for starring in the sequel, with more profit participation (his salary against 20% of the movie's gross) promised if the film's a hit. New Line also wants to get Charlie Sheen back in MONEY TALKS 2.

It's a bit of a gamble for the studio on Tucker. The actor hasn't starred in a movie since RUSH HOUR 2 arrived in theaters three years ago. Work is still happening on RUSH HOUR 3, with the latest news being the hire of screenwriter John Rogers (THE CORE) to polish the script and lower the film's production cost by having all the action take place in a single locale. [Variety.]

May 5, 2005... Chris Tucker is apparently close to coming aboard RUSH HOUR 3 for New Line. Brett Ratner is set to direct and Jeff Nathanson will begin on the script as soon as Tucker signs. The film will be shot in Los Angeles and Paris. It looks like Tucker wants more than just $20 million for him to star; he is also seeing points on the backend. Executives seems to feel confident they will finally be able to get him to sign, but he isn't moving quickly too.

The film will budgeted at $100 million and a 2006 summer release is planned. [Variety.]

November 21, 2005... New Line has finally wrapped up the signing of Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, director Brett Ratner so the production of RUSH HOUR 3 can get underway.

Tucker, who was the biggest question mark in the equation, will receive $20 million against 20% of gross. Chan will get around $15 million against 15% of gross.

New Line has the option to give the final go ahead by May 2006, but when & if they do it will trigger pay-or-play deals for the Ratner, Tucker and Chan.

The film will begin shooting next summer, if all goes well, in the U.S. and Paris. It is scheduled to be released in 2007. [Variety.]