U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively promoting a new installment in the 'Rush Hour' film series, which has not seen a release since 2007. Reports indicate that Trump has engaged in discussions with Larry Ellison, the owner of Paramount Pictures and a significant donor to Trump's political campaigns, regarding various film projects. Paramount is set to distribute 'Rush Hour 4' following Trump's encouragement of director Brett Ratner, who directed the previous films in the franchise.

The production of the film has encountered challenges, with several studios, including Warner Bros.' New Line, previously opting not to release it. However, it has now received the green light, with financing being arranged by producer Tarak Ben Ammar. The first three 'Rush Hour' films, released between 1998 and 2007, collectively grossed approximately $850 million.

Brett Ratner, who has been out of the Hollywood spotlight since 2017 due to multiple allegations of sexual assault, is also working on a documentary about Melania Trump, expected to be released in January on Amazon. Trump's involvement in the film's production raises questions about the potential for state influence over media narratives and the implications of corporate power in the entertainment industry.

In a separate development, documents released as part of Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News reveal internal communications that include disparaging remarks about Trump. A message dated November 9, 2020, from Tucker Carlson referred to Trump as a 'total piece of s***' while discussing the president's refusal to concede the election. The lawsuit stems from Smartmatic's claims that Fox News' coverage damaged its reputation following Joe Biden's victory over Trump.

Fox News has previously settled a similar lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million in April 2023. In response to the recent document release, Fox stated that Smartmatic's business was already suffering prior to the election claims and accused the company of inflating its damage claims to suppress free speech.

The documents also reveal exchanges among Fox News figures, including Sean Hannity expressing frustration over Carlson's criticism of Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, who made unsubstantiated claims about election fraud. Additionally, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon encouraged Maria Bartiromo to pursue a Senate run in New York, while the late Fox host Lou Dobbs lamented that Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene had been 'blackballed' by the network.

These revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of Fox News' role in shaping narratives around the 2020 election and the implications of corporate media's influence on public discourse and democracy.