India, Nov. 27 -- The long-stalled Rush Hour 4 appears to be officially back on track, and its revival comes with an unexpected twist: US President Donald Trump reportedly stepped in personally to push the project forward. According to Puck, the buddy-cop franchise, stuck for years, finally moved ahead at Paramount after Trump lobbied Larry Ellison, a close ally and major investor in Skydance. Only then did Paramount agree to board the film, secure financing, and strike a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Writer Matthew Belloni even joked the entire episode felt like "a preview of the dumbest possible state-controlled media". The film marks a significant turn for director Brett Ratner, who has been largely absent from Hollywood since facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations during the #MeToo movement. One of the most public accusations came from Melanie Kohler, Hawaiian-based former film marketing executive, who alleged in 2017 that Ratner assaulted her. He sued for defamation, and the case was settled the following year. Ratner has recently begun resurfacing, most notably with a $40 million (Rs.350 crore) documentary on Melania Trump (First Lady), slated for a January 30 theatrical release. Rush Hour 4 now positions him for a larger comeback, one many in the industry see as aligned with Trump's push to promote "traditional masculinity" in entertainment. For fans, the real news is the return of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Earlier this year, Chan joked: "Ask the director, ask the studio, ask the writer. Hurry up! Otherwise, Chris Tucker and I will be 100 years old." htC...