Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker – Inside the Rush Hour Pair

The last sequel to Rush Hour rolled out in 2017 and outperformed the franchise’s previous films. Both stars, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, are revered actors with large fan bases and appear as the perfect detective partners. Yet, it may surprise you to discover the inside truth.

Tucker was the first of the two actors to sign on to the Rush Hour franchise. He was already a popular comedian at the time and famous for his good-natured spirit and honesty.  He looked over the script and said: “Don’t just sit there. Go get me a partner!”

Chan needed a bit more than an invite. He was fed up with the poor performance that his previous American movies had in the US market. He was rather reluctant, but after a personal visit from the director, he accepted. Who would really say no, if your invitation flew on a jet for a day and a half to South Africa to convince you?

The pair were not a natural match. They were miles apart in both acting approach and personality, if you could guess. Here are some of the biggest issues that created setbacks to the relationship and almost ruined the film.

• Chris Tucker was disappointed in Jackie Chan’s English. In the end, Chris helped him with his English.
• And Chan was not comfortable with Tucker’s love of improvising lines in the script. Sometimes he did not understand him at all. However, after a while, he became familiar with Tucker’s style.
• Chan was unable to use his unsecured stunt practices due to insurance issues.

The first part of Rush Hour was tedious in making and even after the film was released, Chan was not happy. He had returned to Hong Kong at the time and awaited the premier there. The film did rather poorly at the Asian box office. Chan complained to his manager, repenting the decision of having returned to the US film market.

A few days later, he received a call from the US agent who informed him of the record-breaking performance of the film at the worldwide and US box office.  Rush Hour had accomplished for him what more than three decades of movies did not achieve. A solid footing with the US audience.

Chan did not lose the important role that Tucker had played in his ascension and in his book, Never Grow Up, he laid accolades on him.  Energized by the success of the movie, he now moved back to the US and later revisited the role in two sequels in the franchise, both of which were successful.

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker became friends and have maintained their relationship although they have both been occupied with other work. The news is out, and Chan has confirmed that a fourth sequel is underway. How will this final movie hold up?

No one is sure. However, what we know is that the detective pair will be filling our hearts and home with more action comedy. Are you ready for the next Rush Hour?