ExclusiveMelania, Rush Hour director returns to China with Trump’s delegation
Sources close to the filmmaker say he will be working on preparations for latest sequel of Rush Hour action-comedy franchise
During the three-day trip, which begins on Wednesday, Ratner intends to advance preparations for the action-comedy franchise’s latest sequel, Rush Hour 4, including meetings with crew members, actors and potential Chinese film distribution partners.
He is also planning to shoot most of the film in China, a source added.
A White House official shared the list of travelling CEOs with the SCMP on Monday but did not respond to questions about Ratner’s inclusion in the delegation.
After the globally successful Rush Hour films of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ratner made his comeback in January with a documentary chronicling the US first lady’s life in the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration.
The film, co-produced by Ratner and Melania Trump, was acquired by Amazon for US$75 million.
It recorded the strongest opening for a documentary in a decade, generating around US$7 million in its first weekend and about US$16 million in total box office sales. It remains available for streaming on Amazon Prime.