Jackie Chan is ready to return to one of his most iconic roles, but only if Hollywood hurries up; here’s what he said
Few film franchises grip their audiences quite like the Rush Hour trilogy. Nearly 25 years after the cult classic first hit theaters, fans are still eagerly waiting—and hoping—for a fourth installment. Now, Jackie Chan himself has shared some candid thoughts that have fans buzzing once again.
In a recent interview, the 71-year-old action legend reflected on his experience working on the Rush Hour trilogy, offering some behind-the-scenes insights and an update on the status of Rush Hour 4. While promoting the upcoming Karate Kid: Legends, Chan didn’t hold back, sharing some refreshingly honest thoughts.
When asked to name his favorite Rush Hour film, Chan hesitated before offering a surprisingly candid response:
“I don’t know,” he said. “You know what—the first one: little money, little time. We shot it like, ‘Go, go, go!’ The second one: a lot of money, a lot of time. The third one: too much money, too much time. Too much money is no good.”
This simple yet insightful comment reveals a lot about Chan’s filmmaking philosophy. The original movie’s charm, it seems, came from the urgency and scrappy nature of a smaller production—an unpolished energy that arguably helped Rush Hour become the classic it is today.
As for the highly anticipated Rush Hour 4, Chan didn’t reveal many details, but his message was clear:
“Ask the director, ask the studio, ask the writer. Hurry up! Otherwise, Chris Tucker and I will be 100 years old. We’ll be old men doing Rush Hour.”
It’s a sentiment that’s both humorous and urgent. While fans have long clamored for a sequel, time is literally running out. Back in 2022, Chan confirmed that Rush Hour 4 was in the works, and Chris Tucker shared the excitement, teasing:
“You’re going to see a lot of good stuff coming, but it’s going to be on a whole other level. That’s what I like… I’m excited about that. It’s not going to be what you’ve normally seen… Rush Hour 4 — that’s something I definitely will probably drop in there because I love working with Jackie.”
Directed by Brett Ratner, the original Rush Hour films paired Chan’s stoic but skilled Hong Kong Detective Inspector Lee with Tucker’s fast-talking LAPD Detective James Carter. The buddy-cop formula struck gold, both critically and commercially. However, Ratner’s departure from Hollywood amid controversy has been a major hurdle in getting Rush Hour 4 off the ground.
Still, Jackie’s recent remarks show he’s open — and maybe even eager — to make it happen. Speaking on the Karate Kid: Legends red carpet, he reiterated his interest in reuniting with Tucker, a promising sign for fans still holding out hope. While there’s no official confirmation or timeline for Rush Hour 4 yet, Jackie Chan’s comments make one thing clear: the spirit of the franchise lives on in its stars.
