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- Brett Ratner is a Hollywood director and producer known for the “Rush Hour” franchise.
- Ratner faced backlash over sexual misconduct allegations in 2017.
- His first film since those allegations is a documentary about Melania Trump, which premiered on Friday.
It’s been more than a decade since Brett Ratner directed a major motion picture, and nearly a decade since six women accused him of sexual misconduct.
Now he appears to be staging a comeback with a little help from President Donald Trump.
Ratner directed the authorized documentary about first lady Melania Trump, which premiered in theaters on Friday.
A spokesperson for Ratner told Business Insider that the director is also working on a docuseries about the Abraham Accords, a set of agreements to normalize relations between Israel and some Arab countries that were mediated by the US during Trump’s first term.
“Melania” is getting a limited theatrical run before it begins streaming on Amazon, which paid $40 million to license the film.
“It’s been an honor to work beside you during this past year,” Ratner wrote of Melania in an Instagram post. “I look forward to showing the world what an incredible First Lady you are!”
Ratner’s return comes after he stepped back from the public eye around 2017, when he faced sexual misconduct and harassment accusations at the height of the #MeToo era.
Here’s a look at the rise, fall, and return of Ratner’s career.
Ratner broke into the entertainment industry in the 90s
Ratner is a Miami Beach-native who broke into the entertainment industry in the 1990s. Ratner made his directorial debut in 1997 with “Money Talks,” an action-comedy starring Chris Tucker and Charlie Sheen.
He also directed music videos for artists such as Madonna, Mariah Carey, D’Angelo, and Heavy D.
He became a household name after directing ‘Rush Hour’
Ratner struck gold when he directed “Rush Hour,” a buddy-cop film starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker that hit theaters in 1998.
The film became a box-office success, grossing over $245 million worldwide, according to the movie financial analysis site The Numbers.
He went on to direct other notable Hollywood projects, including “Red Dragon,” “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and “Tower Heist.”
Ratner also has production credits to his name. During his career, he’s produced shows like “Prison Break” and the 2011 film “Horrible Bosses.”
Ratner cofounded RatPac Entertainment
Ratner and Australian billionaire James Packer founded RatPac Entertainment in 2012. The company found early success when it financed “Gravity,” a 2013 sci-fi thriller starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
In addition to commercial and critical acclaim, “Gravity” won numerous awards, including seven Academy Awards, six BAFTA awards, and a Golden Globe Award.
RatPac Entertainment cemented itself as a serious industry player in 2013 when it partnered with Dune Entertainment to secure a deal with Warner Bros. The deal involved RatPac Entertainment financing more than $1 billion for 75 movies, such as “The Lego Movie” and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”
Ratner stepped back from producing the 84th Academy Awards
Ratner snagged a role producing the 84th Academy Awards, but stepped down after using a homophobic slur during a press event for his film “Tower Heist.”
He apologized in a statement to outlets in 2011, saying, “It was a dumb way of expressing myself. Everyone who knows me knows that I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller, I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words.”
Ratner accepted the Ally Award from GLAAD in 2013 for working on a pro-LGBTQ PSA campaign.
Ratner faced sexual misconduct allegations
Six women — including actor Olivia Munn — accused Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct in a 2017 article with The Los Angeles Times.
A spokesperson for Ratner disputed the accusations at the time. He has never been charged with any crimes.
“I have represented Mr. Ratner for two decades, and no woman has ever made a claim against him for sexual misconduct or sexual harassment,” the spokesperson said. “Furthermore, no woman has ever requested or received any financial settlement from my client.”
In the aftermath of the accusations, in 2018, Warner Bros. chose not to renew its co-financing deal with RatPac Entertainment and Dune Entertainment.
‘Melania’ is Ratner’s most prominent project in recent years
Ratner stepped back from public life following the accusations. The last major motion picture he directed was “Hercules,” released in 2014, making “Melania” his largest project in over a decade.
Amazon paid about $40 million to license the documentary, which will have a theatrical run before streaming on Prime Video. The deal also included a docuseries.
Melania Trump, first lady of the United States, and President Donald Trump attended the film’s world premiere in January.
‘Rush Hour 4’ is on the horizon
A spokesperson for Ratner told Business Insider that he’s set to direct “Rush Hour 4,” which is in development.
Although nearly a decade has passed since “Rush Hour 3” debuted in theaters, the franchise’s revival may — in part — be the work of Trump.
Semafor reported that Trump “personally” urged Paramount’s owner to revive the “Rush Hour” series for new audiences.
Read the full article here
