Martin Lawrence Reveals Why He Turned Down Offer to Star with Jackie Chan in ‘Rush Hour’
Martin Lawrence recently shared a surprising revelation about turning down an offer to star alongside Jackie Chan in the ‘Rush Hour’ franchise. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Lawrence disclosed that Chan had approached him before Chris Tucker was cast in the series.
Lawrence explained that despite Chan’s interest in having him as a co-star, he declined the offer due to financial reasons. This decision ultimately led to the iconic pairing of Tucker and Chan in the successful buddy cop films.
‘Rush Hour,’ released in 1998, followed the adventures of two police officers played by Chan and Tucker as they worked together to rescue a kidnapped diplomat’s daughter. The movie was a box office hit and spawned two sequels, becoming a beloved franchise in the action-comedy genre.
While Chan has hinted at the possibility of a fourth installment in the ‘Rush Hour’ series, Lawrence is focused on his own upcoming project. He is set to reprise his role alongside Will Smith in the fourth installment of the ‘Bad Boys’ series, titled ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die.’
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ sees Lawrence and Smith returning as detectives Marcus Bennett and Mike Lowrey. The film is slated for release on June 7 and features a star-studded cast including Alexander Ludwig, Vanessa Hudgens, and Tiffany Haddish.
As Lawrence reflects on his decision regarding ‘Rush Hour,’ fans can look forward to seeing him back in action in the latest installment of the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise.