When Donald J. Trump called David Ellison in October 2025 to push for Rush Hour 4, he wasn’t just making a friendly suggestion—he was testing the limits of power, money, and Hollywood’s sacred separation from politics. The call, placed from Mar-a-Lago at 3:45 PM Pacific Time, came after months of stalled negotiations and internal resistance at Skydance Media, the Santa Monica-based studio that owns the rights to the franchise. What followed wasn’t a studio meeting. It was a high-stakes power play, with billions on the line and the future of a 27-year-old action-comedy franchise hanging in the balance.
The $1.2 Billion Shadow
The real story isn’t about Jackie Chan’s martial arts or Chris Tucker’s rapid-fire jokes. It’s about the invisible thread tying Oracle Corporation to Trump’s political empire. In December 2024, Oracle, led by its 81-year-old co-founder Larry Ellison, invested $1.2 billion in Trump Media & Technology Group, acquiring a 15.8% stake. That deal, confirmed by SEC filings and reported by The Wall Street Journal, gave Oracle a foothold in a company Trump founded after leaving office. Larry Ellison, who owns 35.6% of Oracle, has been friends with Trump since at least 2016. They’ve appeared together 17 times—on stage, at dinners, even at the 2017 inauguration. Their bond isn’t casual. It’s financial, personal, and now, potentially, cinematic.How a Franchise Became a Political Football
Skydance Media, founded by Larry’s son David Ellison in 2010, quietly acquired the Rush Hour rights in 2022 for $48.7 million. By 2023, they had Jackie Chan on board and were negotiating with Chris Tucker. But Paramount Pictures, which had distributed the first three films, killed the project in April 2024, citing weak returns. Rush Hour 3 made $258.3 million globally in 2007—a decent haul, but not enough to justify a $140 million budget. The franchise was dead… until August 2025. That’s when Tucker signed a contract worth $20 million plus 15% of first-dollar gross. Skydance had spent $12.3 million on development. Now, they needed $110 million to start production. And that’s where Larry Ellison drew the line. An internal email from November 24, 2025, read: “Larry wants to discuss political optics before signing off.”What Trump Really Wants
According to a Skydance executive who spoke anonymously, Trump told David Ellison: “Rush Hour 4 would be yuge for the country—very strong, very powerful, like my presidency.” There’s no record of Trump ever producing a feature film. His only credited work? Twelve episodes of The Apprentice between 2004 and 2015. Industry veteran David A. Gross, a former Motion Picture Association consultant, put it bluntly on November 25: “Trump has zero film industry experience. His greenlighting role would be unprecedented—and legally unenforceable.” Yet the optics matter. If a sitting president (or former one) can sway a billion-dollar studio’s decision, what does that mean for creative independence? Hollywood prides itself on being apolitical. But when Oracle’s $1.2 billion bet on Trump Media is tied to a $110 million movie, the line blurs.Who’s Really in Charge?
David Ellison has publicly insisted Skydance makes its own calls. “We make our own decisions at Skydance—period,” he told Variety on November 20. Trump’s spokesperson, Taylor Budowich, echoed that: “The President is always supportive of great American entertainment, but doesn’t get involved in studio decisions.” But here’s the twist: Larry Ellison isn’t just a passive investor. He’s the controlling shareholder of Oracle, which owns Skydance’s parent company. And he’s the one who holds the final purse strings. If he says no, the movie dies—even if Trump wants it, even if Tucker’s signed, even if Chan’s ready.
What’s Next? The December Deadline
Production is slated to begin in January 2026 at Skydance’s Culver City soundstages, with a targeted August 1, 2026, release. But the Ellison family must approve the budget by December 15, 2025. That’s less than three weeks away. If Larry Ellison signs off, Rush Hour 4 becomes a cultural lightning rod—a blockbuster with political baggage. If he doesn’t, the franchise fades again, and the question lingers: Did Trump try to use his influence to revive a movie he liked… or was this just a power move to remind the world he still matters?The Bigger Picture: When Business Becomes Politics
This isn’t the first time entertainment and politics have collided. Remember when Disney clashed with Florida’s governor over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill? Or when Netflix pulled a documentary over pressure from Saudi Arabia? But those were corporate responses to public pressure. This is different. Here, a billionaire’s personal friendship with a former president is directly entangled with a studio’s financial decision. And there’s another layer: Oracle’s $9.5 billion acquisition of Cerner in 2022 required Trump administration approval. Did that create an unspoken obligation? We don’t know. But the timing is too neat to ignore.Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Larry Ellison have the final say on 'Rush Hour 4'?
Larry Ellison controls Oracle Corporation, which owns Skydance Media through its parent company structure. As the largest shareholder of Oracle with 35.6% ownership, his approval is required for major capital expenditures like the $110 million production budget. Even though David Ellison runs Skydance day-to-day, financial decisions of this scale require Larry’s authorization.
Has any former president ever tried to influence a movie production before?
No former president has publicly lobbied a studio to greenlight a specific film. While Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush had Hollywood ties, they never intervened in development decisions. Trump’s alleged call to David Ellison is unprecedented in modern American history. Even his own production credits are limited to reality TV, not theatrical features.
What’s the financial risk if 'Rush Hour 4' flops?
Skydance has already invested $12.3 million in development. A full $110 million production budget would put the total at $122.3 million. If the film underperforms—say, earns less than $200 million globally—it would likely lose money after marketing and distribution costs. The franchise’s last film made $258 million in 2007, but today’s market is more fragmented and less forgiving of sequels.
Could Trump legally force Skydance to make the movie?
No. No legal mechanism exists for a former president to compel a private company to produce a film. Even if Trump had a financial stake in Skydance—which he doesn’t—his influence would be purely social or reputational. Industry experts say any attempt to frame such pressure as contractual would collapse in court under First Amendment protections and lack of binding agreement.
Why is Chris Tucker’s involvement so critical?
Chris Tucker’s character, Carter, is the comedic engine of the franchise. Without him, the film loses its identity. His $20 million salary plus 15% of first-dollar gross makes him the highest-paid actor in the project. His contract, signed August 12, 2025, was the final piece needed to revive the film after Paramount’s rejection. His commitment signals to investors that the core chemistry still exists.
What happens if Larry Ellison says no?
If Larry Ellison declines the budget, Skydance will likely shelve Rush Hour 4 indefinitely. The rights could revert to Paramount, or be sold to another studio—but no other major player would risk the political controversy without Oracle’s backing. The franchise, which has grossed over $1.2 billion globally, may enter permanent hibernation—unless another billionaire with no political ties steps in.