Director Brett Ratner is reportedly traveling to China as part of President Donald Trump’s delegation.
Sources familiar with Ratner’s plans told the South China Morning Post that he will arrive Wednesday as part of a three-day trip during which time he is expected to prepare for the “Rush Hour” sequel, “Rush Hour 4.” The outlet reported that Ratner intends to meet with crew members, actors and possible Chinese film distribution partners.
Trump is slated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid a trade war with China and the war with Iran.
Trump reportedly lobbied for the revival of the fourth installment of the “Rush Hour” franchise. A source told The South China Morning Post that Ratner plans to shoot the majority of the film in China.
A White House official sent a list of the CEOs attending to the outlet but reportedly did not provide answers to questions about Ratner’s involvement in the delegation.
US director Brett Ratner attends the world premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “Melania” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
“Rush Hour” stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are expected to return to their roles in the new film, Deadline previously reported.
Others joining the high-profile delegation include Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Mastercard’s Michael Miebach and Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, according to a White House list cited by the South China Morning Post.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 29: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend a screening of the documentary film “Melania” at The Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. “Melania” was directed by Brett Ratner, and Amazon paid $40 million to license the film, which follows the first lady in the twenty days before her return to the White House. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
The documentary “Melania” chronicles the life of the first lady during the 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration. The film was acquired by Amazon for $75 million, and it was Melania’s debut film as part of the launch of her production company, Muse Films. (RELATED: Trump Strong-Armed Paramount Into Reviving ‘Rush Hour’ — And It Worked: REPORT)
The documentary earned $7.1 million from 1,778 North American theaters in its first Friday to Sunday premiere, earning the number three spot, according to Forbes.