ROTTEN TOMATOES: Yao Ming Turns Down "Rush Hour 3"

Yao Ming Turns Down "Rush Hour 3"

by Senh Duong | September 19, 2006

Brett Ratner can cross out yet another celebrity from his dream cast for "Rush Hour 3." In an interview with a sports writer from a Chinese newspaper, it's revealed that Basketball superstar Yao Ming (Year of the Yao) has turned down a role in the film.

Ratner had wanted to recreate the popular fight scene between Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from "Game of Death" with Chris Tucker in the Lee role and Yao Ming in the Abdul-Jabbar role. Ming didn't give a reason for declining the offer, but his image probably has a lot to do with it. He is considered a hero in China; playing a heavy might not sit too well with his Chinese fans.

In an interview with ComingSoon.net in May, Brett Ratner named his dream cast for "Rush Hour 3" - Tony Jaa, Yao Ming, Aishwarya Rai (Bollywood's most popular actress), and Gong Li. Jaa declined Ratner's offer about a month ago. There's no word from Rai and Li yet.

"Rush Hour 3" is the third installment of New Line Cinema's lucrative Rush Hour franchise starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. It's scheduled to open on Aug 10, 2007.

Related Items

Movie:	Game of Death
	The Year of the Yao
	Rush Hour
Celeb:	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
	Aishwarya Rai
	Chris Tucker
	Gong Li
	Bruce Lee
	Jackie Chan
	Tony Jaa

(1-20 of 22 posts) | Reply

Viginti-Tres writes:
on Sep 19 2006 03:44 AM

i really couldn't care less about this movie

(Reply to this)

jtown91 writes:
on Sep 19 2006 06:32 AM

then why did you take the time to post a comment about it?

(Reply to this)

arpeggio191 writes:
on Sep 19 2006 07:09 AM

because it's fun.

(Reply to this)

donkeytron writes:
on Sep 19 2006 10:34 AM

Even way up there, Yao can smell the bullsh1t.

(Reply to this)

taran72 writes:
on Sep 19 2006 10:53 AM

I think Ratner's a hack like everyone else. However, reversing the roles to duplicate the scene in Game of Death is an inspired idea.

(Reply to this)

nordak writes:
on Sep 19 2006 11:32 AM

After watching Ratner ruin the XMen franchise, I will hate the man until he is out of work and swears to never touch a movie again. Good call Yao.

(Reply to this)

Now it's dark writes:
on Sep 19 2006 11:49 AM

It will still be just as good.

(Reply to this)

Bane Of Anubis writes:
on Sep 19 2006 12:10 PM

After watching Singer ruin the superman franchise :), maybe it's good that BR took the X-Men helm. But he's a hack -- moo moo -- they and we are all hacks -- GAFC!

(Reply to this)

hellhole writes:
on Sep 19 2006 12:27 PM

For as long as he stars in films alongside Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker should never be allowed to throw a punch or kick onscreen again.

(Reply to this)

IMAmoose24 writes:
on Sep 19 2006 05:11 PM

Singer ruin Superman franchise??? What are you talking about?? SR was great.

The people on this forum. We got someone who thinks Superman Returns was bad, and another who called Lord Of The Rings a "peice of crap".

God help us.

(Reply to this)

bracer028 writes:
on Sep 19 2006 08:25 PM

Superman returns was bad. the movie just kept dragging on and on. Save a plane, check. Save lois, check. Save the daily planet, check. save falling buildings check. fight Lex once, get beaten up. Saved by Lois. Then save the city yet again. Fight Lex yet again. Save the City again and again. Really, it gets repetitive. Then somehow Lois has superman's son, without knowing he's clark kent. Mighty check.

(Reply to this)

dylan21484nj writes:
on Sep 19 2006 09:10 PM

wow, who would have thought that a basketball player from China would have better sense governing his film career than people with actual film experience who actually want to make a Rush Hour 3?

(Reply to this)

sir_mcchris_the_pirate writes:
on Sep 19 2006 09:57 PM

In reply to this comment (#844561)
[b]BOOYAH!![/b]
Of course Superman saves Lois. Of course Superman saves Lex. Of course Superman saves the day....that is what Superman does. Singer did a decent job. No it wasn't the best Superman....but he didnt degrade it at all in my opinion. And the Lois's son deal....In Superman II she sleeps with Clark, but realizing he could never be with her unless she is in danger, he swipes her memory....for all she knows fucking satan is her son. But I do respect your opinion about the movie....but dont say its because Superman did what Superman does

(Reply to this)

alsanali writes:
on Sep 19 2006 10:12 PM

I would see this movie for Aishwarya Rai alone. How often do you get to see her without having to sit through three hours of song and dance?

(Reply to this)

Bane Of Anubis writes:
on Sep 20 2006 08:56 AM

In reply to this comment (#844560)
Let's build giant spiky rocks -- everyone's going to want that real estate. Yeah, that stupid plotline ruins Superman.

(Reply to this)

RoadDogXVIII writes:
on Sep 20 2006 09:36 AM

You guys are trolls. "Waaaah! Ratner ruined my X-Men!" "Waaaah! Singer ruined my Superman!" Shut the fuck up.

(Reply to this)

The Paki Don writes:
on Sep 20 2006 03:58 PM

Honestly, about the spiky rocks crap, did Lex really know, what the outcome would be? If you throw one of those "enlarge in water" spongy things in a bath tub, you kinda have an idea of what you get, but time it by.... many thousands? Besides, haven't we garnered that Lex is a little bit off the scale of reason?

ABOUT Yao Ming not saying yes to the role... It's a respectable decision. If he's doing it to keep his "hero status" (sounds like a computer game thing) in China, then let him. Keep both feet on the ground. I like that.

(Reply to this)

ck100 writes:
on Sep 20 2006 09:11 PM

Aren't we forgetting that Yao Ming has no discernable acting talent, training, or experience? Why do all these hollywood big shots assume that any athlete can act?

(Reply to this)

getomans writes:
on Sep 20 2006 10:16 PM

Yao ming would had killed this movie. I cant wait to see this movie-i espechally want to see how Chris Tucker would fare out after a 5 to 6 year hitatus.

(Reply to this)

southfrisco writes:
on Sep 23 2006 08:04 PM

[b]Chris Tucker is no Bruce Lee[/b]
Chris Tucker in a fight scene ala Bruce Lee is funny as hell. Ratner is a big time idiot and Tucker is only good for running away and screaming. I feel sorry here for Jackie Chan.

(Reply to this)

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