Rush Hour 4 is reportedly being pitched to various studios in an attempt to get the project off the ground. The fourth installment in the franchise, starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, could also mark controversial director Brett Ratner’s return to filmmaking.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, executives at Lionsgate held a meeting to discuss Rush Hour 4 in July 2024. While other franchises, such as John Wick, have experienced success with new additions, the problem with getting the action comedy off the ground is the potential involvement of Ratner, who directed the first three Rush Hour movies. Sources familiar with the talks said the filmmaker, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, was part of the pitch for the fourth installment.
Ratner, who faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment in 2017, has denied the claims and was not charged for the alleged crimes. However, after getting dropped by his agency, the filmmaker has been absent from Hollywood for several years. Due to the controversy, Warner Bros. allowed Rush Hour 4 to be licensed elsewhere. Despite the freedom to house the project elsewhere, studios like Paramount and Sony passed on the film after hearing that Ratner would be involved.
Ratner had a thriving career in the ’90s and 2000s as a music video director and studio filmmaker, hitting it big with the first Rush Hour movie in 1998. He went on to direct the next two films in the series, which collectively made over $500 million at the domestic box office. However, after detailed accusations of sexual misconduct were leveled against him by six women, including Natasha Henstridge and Olivia Munn, no one wanted to work with him.
For Rush Hour 4 to move forward, it would need domestic and international distribution partners. Although the involved parties wouldn’t have ownership of the rights to the previous Rush Hour films, they would acquire a new installment in a well-established franchise, while Warner Bros. would receive a licensing fee. While Tucker and Chan have expressed interest in a fourth Rush Hour movie, their involvement has not been made official.
In 2019, the pair almost broke the internet after posting a photo together on Instagram, hinting at a reunion for a potential reunion for their characters Yan Naing Lee and James Carter. However, Chan’s management company, the JC Group, quickly debunked speculation. In Dec. 2022, Chan backtracked once more by confirming that Rush Hour 4 was in development. “We’re talking about Rush Hour 4 right now,” he said during an appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, CBR
MTV today announced that Caught in the Act: Unfaithful, hosted by TV legend Tami Roman, will premiere on Tuesday, September 17th at 9pm ET/PT. The fan-favorite series returns with jaw-dropping moments, captivating twists, and emotional confrontations that promise to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
This season explores a new, unpredictable case each week, featuring clandestine rendezvous, shocking family betrayals, engagement entanglements, and salacious scandals. Alongside seasoned Relationship Expert Coach Ken and an elite investigation team, Tami Roman takes on the electrifying task of helping suspicious lovers expose their unfaithful partners. Each story delves into the complex dynamics of trust, deception, and the pursuit of truth, culminating in a pivotal choice: team up with the partner’s other lover or expose them both in a dramatic takedown.
Caught in the Act: Unfaithful is executive produced by Lashan Browning, Donna Edge-Rachell, Paris Bauldwin, Alissa Horowitz, Daniel Wiener, Jamail Shelton, and Rich Allen for Antoinette Media. Tami Roman also serves as Producer. Sitarah Pendelton-Eaglin and Jennifer Aguirre serve as Executive Producers with Supervising Producer Jarrad Galano for MTV. Sara Finney serves as Executive in Charge for MTV.
Join the conversation using #MTVUnfaithful, and follow along on X, Instagram, and TikTok. Catch up with full episodes of Caught In The Act: Unfaithful on MTV Video On Demand.
CNN is adding an array of humor specialists to its broad gallery of journalistic experts.
Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black have been named to serve as captains on the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet’s new Saturday-night series “Have I Got News For You.” The ten-episode run of the series, best known in its original incarnation on the BBC, launches Saturday, September 14, at 9 p.m. Roy Wood Jr. is the host.
“It is an honor to get to work with comedy favorites Michael Ian Black and Roy Wood Jr,” said Ruffin, in a statement. “It is our hope that this show will take people from saying, “This is CNN.” to “THIS is CNN!?!?””
“I’m thrilled to be joining Roy Wood Jr. and Amber Ruffin as ‘Have I Got News For You’s” DEI hire,” said Black, in a statement. “I’m looking forward to spreading as much disinformation as possible on America’s most trusted news network – my main focus has been, and will continue to be, pleasing my handlers in the Kremlin.
“Have I Got News For You” has been made available by the BBC since 1990, and typically showcases two teams talking about various news stories on the week. The U.K. show has been so scrutinized that it has been brought to court for utterances of various panelists about news subjects.
The series joins rebroadcasts of Bill Maher’s HBO roundtable program, “Real Time.” CNN has hopes of branching out into news-driven comedy, according to Amy Entelis, CNN’s executive vice president of talent and content, who told Variety of such plans in a May interview. Weekend viewers might like a break from the intensity of the news week with programs about lifestyle or “have a laugh about something and maybe be able to connect to a personality who wouldn’t necessarily be anchoring a show on CNN or even an original series,” she said. “We will be exploring that going forward.”
Ruffin first came to notice as a writer and contributor to NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” — the first Black woman to write for a U.S. late-night broadcast talk program. She hosted her own program on NBC’s Peacock streaming hub and, more recently, penned the revised book for Broadway’s current revival of “The Wiz.”
Black is an actor, writer, and comedian who began his career with the sketch comedy troupe The State. He co-created several television shows, including “Viva Variety,” “Stella,” and “Michael & Michael Have Issues.” He has starred in series including “Ed” and “The Jim Gaffigan Show ” and appeared in films including “This Is 40.” He has also hosted game shows and led podcasts.
Source: Variety
Comedy Central announced an impressive voice cast for the reimagined adult animated series, “Everybody Still Hates Chris,” including Chris Rock, Terry Crews, and Tichina Arnold. Also joining the new series are Tim Johnson Jr., Ozioma Akagha, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, and Gunnar Sizemore. Produced by CBS Studios; Chris Rock Enterprises; and 3 Arts Entertainment, the new half-hour animated series will premiere on Comedy Central later this year.
“I’m very excited to introduce the world to another funny side of my childhood,” said Star and Executive Producer Chris Rock.
“I wanted this job to get free tickets to a Chris Rock stand-up show, but we ended up making something we’re proud of that is true to the original series we all loved,” said Sanjay Shah, series Showrunner and Executive Producer.
“Everybody Still Hates Chris” will feature Chris Rock (“Rustin,” “Fargo”) as “Adult Chris,” narrating stories inspired by his experience growing up as a skinny nerd in a large working-class family in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, during the late 1980s. Terry Crews (“America’s Got Talent”) will voice “Julius,” Chris’ father who is a gentle giant with a relentless work ethic, and cheap. He grew up dirt poor, so he knows the cost of everything down to the penny. He works two jobs to support the family, and on his days off, he takes on a third job. Tichina Arnold (“The Neighborhood”) will voice “Rochelle,” Chris’ mother who is smart, strong-willed, and has a nurturing spirit, but she can also be hot-headed, especially when it comes to her kids. She tolerates zero nonsense, so she quits more jobs in a month than most people do in a lifetime.
In addition to the cast of the original series “Everybody Hates Chris,” Tim Johnson Jr. (“Saturdays”) will voice “Young Chris,” a nerd who wants to be cool but he’s outshined by his younger brother, tortured by his little sister, and foiled by his cheapskate dad; Ozioma Akagha (“DELILAH”) will voice “Tonya,” Chris’ feisty baby sister, with the face of an angel and the heart of a demon, who gets along with her middle brother Drew but leaps at any chance to get Chris in trouble; Terrence Little Gardenhigh (“Danger Force”) will voice “Drew,” the golden child of the family who is the epitome of Black Excellence: handsome, athletic, a ladies man, taller and cooler than his older brother Chris; and Gunnar Sizemore (“Kung Fu Panda”) will voice “Greg,” Chris’s only friend at school who is girl-obsessed, status conscious and raised by a single dad.
“Everybody Hates Chris,” Chris Rock’s autobiographical, critically-acclaimed family series, ran for four seasons on UPN then the CW from 2005 – 2009. The series won a NAACP Image Award for its writing in 2007 and was also nominated for a Golden Globe and several Emmy Awards. All four seasons of the original series are available to stream on Paramount+.
“Everybody Still Hates Chris” is produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ animation arm. Alongside Chris Rock of Chris Rock Enterprises, showrunner Sanjay Shah (“Central Park”); Ali LeRoi; and Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts Entertainment will executive produce. Titmouse (“Big Mouth”) serves as the animation studio for the series with Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio and Ben Kalina serving as executive producers.
In 2016, it was announced that Jamie Foxx was set to make his directorial debut with the controversial comedy entitled All-Star Weekend. The film was about the NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend event, centered around NBA superstars LeBron James and Steph Curry. For unknown reasons, the film was never released.
On Saturday (August 11), the 56-year-old entertainer unveiled the trailer for the shelved film to his 17.3 million Instagram followers. In 2022, Foxx told various media outlets that the film would not be released until “people go back to laughing again” as he felt “people might be too sensitive” for the film.
All-Star Weekend focuses on two basketball fans, played by Foxx and Jeremy Piven, who embark on a road trip to attend the NBA All-Star Game. They encounter eccentric characters as they travel, leading to a series of controversial and comedic situations. The film also stars Robert Downey Jr, Gerald Bulter, Snoop Dogg, Eva Longoria, DJ Khaled, Benicio De Toro, and Foxx’s daughter Corinne Foxx.
The film was set to be released on Front Row Center Films and was financed by Sijma Equity Group. The film is produced by Chuck Pacheco, Deon Taylor, and Butch Kaplan.
In the Instagram Story, Foxx teased that the film could be released in 2025. According to Jamie Foxx, the 2016 “Cancel Culture” era was responsible for the film’s refusal to be released. Since recovering from illness in 2023, Foxx has returned to acting with nine films in production and plans to return to stand-up comedy.
Foxx coincidentally shared the unreleased trailer after LeBron James and Steph Curry helped Team USA win gold at this year’s Paris Olympics. LeBron performed amazingly throughout the games, but Curry secured the victory against France with a series of great scoring drives in the final minutes.
Quinta Brunson is turning her attention to the movies and will produce, co-write, and star in a comedy feature for Universal called “Par for the Course” that will see the “Abbott Elementary” star act alongside Stephanie Hsu.
While this isn’t Brunson’s first film acting role, its her first screenplay and major starring role. She’ll be writing the script alongside Justin Tan, who is also a writer on “Abbott Elementary,” and Tan will direct the film as his feature directorial debut.
Seth Rogen‘s Point Grey Pictures will also produce the comedy alongside Brunson, and it’s a mini reunion between the two after Brunson had a part in Rogen’s “An American Pickle.” Alex McAtee is set to produce on behalf of Point Grey under its first-look deal with Universal Pictures. Brunson is producing on behalf of her production banner Fifth Chance.
Plot details for “Par for the Course” are being kept under wraps, but the film is based on an original idea from Brunson.
“I’m so excited to be working with Point Grey and Universal on ‘Par for the Course.’ This is a comedy close to my heart, and who better to do it with than some of the best producers in the game,” Brunson said in a statement. “I’ve known Seth, Evan, James, and Alex for a while and I’m happy to finally work on a project together. Justin Tan is my long-term comedy partner and collaborator, and we are thrilled to have the chance to work together on a film. Stephanie is a talent we are so fortunate to unite with, I can’t wait to see what we can do together on screen.”
“We’re so thrilled at the opportunity to get to work with Quinta,” Rogen said. “She’s one of our most incredible comedic voices working today, and it’s such an honor to get to work alongside her and watch what she brings to this project.
Brunson is a two-time Emmy winner for her work as both a writer and actress on “Abbott Elementary,” the ABC sitcom that recently completed its third season.
Hsu is an Oscar nominee for the Best Picture winner “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and is known for her work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and the comedy “Joy Ride,” among others. This year she appeared in “The Fall Guy” also for Universal and Focus Features’ “Didi,” and she’ll lend her voice to another Universal and DreamWorks animated film, the upcoming “The Wild Robot.”
Senior Executive Vice President of Production Development Erik Baiers and Creative Executive Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project on behalf of the Studio.
Brunson is represented by CAA, Strig Artist Management, attorneys Lily G. Tillers and Nina Shaw at Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang, and Persona PR. Tan is represented by CAA, Strig Artist Management, and Authentic Talent + Literary Management. Hsu is represented by CAA and Shelter PR.
Source: IndieWire
Nick Cannon Presents Wild ‘N Out, the iconic comedy show that has launched careers of Kevin Hart, DC Young Fly, and Katt Williams, is celebrating 20 years with its “Final Lap Tour” this fall.
According to the news release, the tour will feature a blend of Wild ‘N Out all-stars from past and present, dynamic musical performances, and fan-favorite interactive games. It offers fans the chance to relive some of the show’s most memorable moments and see their favorite stars perform live.
For two decades, Wild ‘N Out has been a cultural phenomenon, shaping comedy and entertainment worldwide. This tour celebrates its legacy, bringing the show’s signature improvisational comedy and high-energy games to life on stages across the country.
“Wild ‘N Out has been a labor of love for the past 20 years,” said Cannon. “We’ve created a platform for so many talented individuals, and it’s been incredible to watch them flourish. This final lap is our way of celebrating the legacy of the show and thanking the fans who have supported us along the way.”
“This Final Lap Tour is going to be epic!” said Rip Micheals, Wild ‘N Out cast member and tour creator. “Expect to see your favorite Wild ‘N Out family members back on stage, with past greats going head-to-head with the new legends of comedy. We’re pulling out all the stops to make this the most unforgettable tour yet.”
The “Wild ‘N Out Live: The Final Lap Tour” promises an unforgettable night of laughter and surprises. Wild ‘N Out cast members from past and present will be engaging audiences with hilarious improv games and freestyle battles. Per the release, the tour will host musical performances by some of today’s hottest artists, alongside interactive audience games allowing fans to participate in the show’s iconic challenges.
For the latest details on the tour visit www.wildnoutlivetour.com.
Tour Dates and Cities:
Additional cities and dates forthcoming. Tour dates and venues are subject to change.
A filmed version of Usher‘s latest concert tour is moving and grooving to the big screen in the fall.
“Usher: Rendezvous in Paris” will arrive in movie theaters on Sept. 12 for a limited theatrical run. It’s expected to play in approximately 2,000 locations across the globe.
The concert film “incorporates the essence of his landmark cultural phenomenon Vegas residencies into a seductive French touch confession,” according to a press release. Captured during Paris Fashion Week at La Seine Musicale and directed by Anthony Mandler, “Rendezvous in Paris” features Usher performing chart-topping hits like “Yeah,” “My Boo” and “Love In This Club” and gives audiences a glimpse inside his life beyond the stage.
“Paris was a special experience for me as an entertainer and for my fans,” Usher said in a statement. “I hope those who weren’t able to make it in person get to experience how special it was. As for those of you who were, I hope you experience the show and see what it takes to get there through a different lens.”
The concert film will be released in the U.S. and globally by Trafalgar Releasing, in partnership with AMC Theatres Distribution. AMC and Odeon will provide core marketing support for the film in the U.S. and international markets. This marks AMC’s latest foray into distribution following the release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” AMC’s chairman Adam Aron has previously said he expects that AMC will unveil “two to three” concert films a year and recently expanded the company’s distribution team, underscoring its commitment to releasing its own movies.
“For 30 years, Usher has captivated and entertained audiences through his music and concerts. Just a few months ago, he drew rave reviews for his stunning performance in front of 129 million people during the Super Bowl Half Time Show,” Aron said in a statement. “Bringing his unparalleled concert experience to movie theaters for his fans around the world is a perfect fit for AMC Theatres Distribution.”
Source: Variety
Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Maude Apatow, and Katt Williams have joined TriStar’s untitled buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and four-time Grammy-winning musician Sza. Joshua Neal, Aziza Scott, and Patrick Cage will also star.
The logline is being kept under wraps. Lawrence Lamont is directing with the screenplay written by Syreeta Singleton. Producing is Hoorae’s Issa Rae and Sara Diya Rastogi, ColorCreative’s Deniese Davis, and Macro Film Studios’ Charles D. King, James Lopez and Poppy Hanks. Singleton is co-producing. Big Boss’ Palmer and Sharon Palmer are executive producing. Macro Film Studios is also co-financing.
The project came together from the CoCre lab at Sony Pictures, a previous pact between ColorCreative and Sony to source and incubate emerging, diverse screenwriters to develop and write their first studio feature based on original ideas.
Howery is continuing to busy, recently starring in Vacation Friends 2, the sequel to the Hulu movie he starred in alongside John Cena. Other recent credits include Judas and the Black Messiah, Good Burger 2 and the Christmas comedy Dashing Through the Snow with Ludacris. This year, Howery was seen in We Grown Now, and he is next set to star in Sony’s Harold and the Purple Crayon this August.
James stars in the Emmy-nominated ABC comedy Abbott Elementary, for which she has received three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as nominations for Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, Critics Choice and Gotham awards. She also earned the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a nomination for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy. Her latest stand-up special was featured in Season 3 of Netflix’s The Stand Ups.
An original cast member of the Broadway hit Dreamgirls, Calloway has earned eight NAACP Image Award nominations. She won the NAACP Theater Award for Best Actress for her role as Zora Neale Hurston in her one-woman play Letters From Zora. She stars in The Black Hamptons now streaming on BET and Netflix’s new series The Vince Staples Show, produced by Kenya Barris. She is a producer and co-stars in Wicked City, a series on AllBlk. She directed, produced and co-starred in Black Girl Erupted, a TV movie streaming on BET and BETHer.
Monterroso Mejia is best known for her character Maria Sofia Estrada on Season 11 of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Upcoming, Monterroso Mejia will star opposite Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon in You’re Cordially Invited for Amazon, written and directed by Nick Stoller. She will star opposite Seth Rogen in The Studio, Apple TV+’s upcoming comedy series from Rogen’s Point Grey, and will also appear in Mindy Kaling’s pro basketball comedy series Running Point for Netflix.
Apatow currently stars as Lexi Howard in HBO’s Euphoria. It was recently announced that she launched Jewelbox Pictures, a film and television production company alongside creative partner Olivia Rosenbloom. The company currently has three films in development, the first of which – Poetic License – will mark Apatow’s feature directorial debut. Jewelbox also optioned How to Murder Your Life, written by Cat Marnell, and is attached to produce the film Female Friendship, with an eye toward Apatow starring.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Williams’ guest role in Atlanta earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. His most recent project, the comedy horror film The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2, fa ollow-up to the 2016 indie hit, stars Williams along with Mike Epps, Snoop Dogg and Danny Trejo.
Neal has worked on HBO’s Black Lady Sketch Show for Robin Thede, and artist Teezo Touchdown.
Scott has appeared in TNT’s Murder in the First, HBO’s Insecure, Freeform’s The Fosters and Showtime’s Twenties. Scott recently was a series regular on Apple TV+’s Home Before Dark.
Cage most recently starred in the second season of the Max series Rap Sh!t created by Rae and had a recurring role in the third season of Paramount’s Mayor of Kingstown.
Source: Deadline
Erica Ash, who spent two seasons on the Fox sketch comedy show Mad TV and also stood out on the BET reality spoof Real Husbands of Hollywood and the Starz comedy-drama Survivor’s Remorse, has died. She was 46.
Ash died Sunday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, her publicist Elizabeth Much told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit, humor and genuine zest for life,” her family said in a statement. “Her memory will live eternally in our hearts.”
She also starred as the fierce public defender Gwen Sullivan on the 2018 BET drama In Contempt.
Ash first made an impression by starring on the first two seasons (2006-08) of Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, produced by Rosie O’Donnell, and she appeared on the big screen in films including Scary Movie V (2013), Uncle Drew (2018), The Big Bend (2021) and Violet (2021).
Ash played Mary Charles (“M-Chuck”) Calloway, half-sister of Jessie T. Usher’s pro basketball player Cam Calloway, on all four seasons (2014-17) of Survivor’s Remorse. The series was produced by LeBron James at his Spring Hill Productions.
As Bridgette Hart, she made life extremely difficult for her ex-husband Kevin Hart on Real Husbands of Hollywood, which ran for five seasons, from 2013-16.
Erica Chantal Ash was born in Florida on Sept. 19, 1977, and raised in Atlanta, where she attended Emory University to study medicine. She took a break and went to Japan, where she “fell into a background singing gig my first week there” and did some modeling, she told the Los Angeles Times in 2017.
“Then my modeling team was doing a show for the royal family of Japan at this hotel and the ringside announcer thought I should ringside announce. Literally, one thing led to another, so I tell people I’m the Forrest Gump of my field. I just blindly, by faith, walked through life and said ‘yes’ to things that were presented to me, and it led me here.”
She worked on Broadway in 2011 in Baby It’s You!, the jukebox musical from Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott that featured music from The Shirelles and other acts signed to Scepter Records.
Her résumé also included episodes of Cold Case, Shades of Blue, A Black Lady Sketch Show and Family Reunion and the films Kristy (2014), Jean of the Joneses (2016) and The Outlaw Johnny Black (2023).
Donations in her memory can be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation or the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Survivors include her mother, Diann, and her sister, Adrienne.
Ash “was an actress whose range and talent were truly limitless,” Rel Dowdell, director of film studies at Hampton University, noted. “Her canvas of work admirably and notably covered all genres, and with every performance, she left a first-class impression on the viewer.”
Source: The Hollywood Reporter