It’s the moment that millions of Jackie Chan fans and all five of Chris Tucker’s followers have been waiting for: at long last, Rush Hour 3 is a go.
It’s been years of negotiation and – in Tucker’s case – deliberation as the loud-mouthed comedy actor held up progress on the film with demands for script approval. Then there’s been scheduling. Director Brett Ratner, who’s busy working on X-Men 3, has had a full slate, and Jackie Chan never stops acting/producing/directing.
But now they’ve all found time in their diaries, with the third instalment slated to shoot next year in America and Paris in preparation for a summer 2007 release.
New Line are praying the budget doesn’t tip over $120 million – they’re already paying Tucker $20 million, Chan $15 million and Ratner $5 million to return. Expect any supporting cast members to be paid in fruit pastilles. No details on a plot yet, although the cast and director have previously said that they were considering an African adventure. Whatever they end up with, it’ll be packed with cultural misunderstandings, comedy hijinks and martial arts madness…