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Can you imagine the iconic bustle ofRush Hourwithout the rapid-fire banter of Chris Tucker filling the air? It’s like trying to picture New York City without the Statue of Liberty or a circus minus the clowns—nigh impossible!
Chan’s high-flying kicks, coupled with Tucker’s side-splitting gags, turned the clock to fun o’clock, starting in 1998 with the box office juggernautRush Hour. The duo, with their knack for fighting crime as well as firing quips, kept viewers in stitches, spawning a trilogy that kept the laughs coming.
But hold your horses—did you know Chan initially wanted to cast his cop dramedy with Martin Lawrence before salary snags prompted theBad Boyslegend to tip his hat and back out? During a recent visit toThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,Lawrence disclosed that he had a conversation with Chan regarding their collaboration in Brett Ratner’s 1998 flick.
Rush HourRevisited: Martin Lawrence’s Take on Turning Down the Role
Rush HourwithoutChris Tucker—it almost happened! Jackie Chan, the legendary martial artist and actor, actually wanted to team up with Martin Lawrence before the iconicRush Hourseries was born.
“I’m not Chris Tucker”: Jackie Chan Showed No Mercy To His Rush Hour Co-star For His Annoying Inactivity In Hollywood
Can you picture it? The dynamic duo of Jackie Chan and Martin Lawrence taking on the streets of Los Angeles in a high-powered buddy cop comedy? It would have been a match made in Hollywood heaven, or so we thought. During Lawrence’s June 4 appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he disclosed that Chan had approached him to co-star inRush Hourbefore Tucker joined the flick.
TheBad Boysstar, 59, said:
Jackie Chan asked me to star in Rush Hour with him, but I turned it down.
Unfortunately, Lawrence had to pass on the opportunity due to the all-too-common issue of low salary. As the saying goes, money talks, and in this case, it spoke louder than the promise of a blockbuster franchise. When Jimmy Fallon questioned why Lawrence declined Chan’s offer, theHouse Partyactor replied:
Not enough money.
It seems that even the prospect of sharing thescreen with Chan, 70, wasn’t enough to sway Lawrence into signing on toRush Hour.Instead, the role of the fast-talking LAPD detective went to the hilarious Chris Tucker, and the rest is history.
Martin Lawrence’s ‘Happy’ Stance on Chris Tucker’s Role
Rush Hourbecame a cultural phenomenon, grossing over $244 million worldwide (Box Office Mojo) and solidifyingJackie Chanand Chris Tucker as one of the most iconic buddy cop duos in cinematic history.
But what ifMartin Lawrencehad said yes? Would the film have achieved the same level of success with a different leading man? It’s hard to say, but the actor was“happy”as Tucker nailed his performanceas James Carter. In the same chat withThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,Lawrence confessed:
I was happy for Chris, that’s what it was supposed to be. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, and they brought a beautiful franchise with Rush Hour.
Tucker confirmed last year that he and Chan plan to appear in a fourth movie, but no new information has been released yet (seeVariety).
Real Fight Took Place on Rush Hour Set Causing Panic While Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker Were Busy Fighting the On-screen Bad Guys
So the long and short of it is that the winning chemistry between Chan and Tucker was truly special. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, andRush Hour’s box office success speaks for itself. With their perfect comedic timing, they delivered some of the most memorable one-liners & action-packed sequences that fans still quote to this day.
Rush Hourwas released in 1998, three years after the firstBad Boysmovie. The former went on to receive two follow-ups:Rush Hour 2andRush Hour 3.
BothBad Boys&Rush Hourare available to rent on Apple TV.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
