Yao Ming Turns Down "Rush Hour 3" Posted by Senh Duong on Tuesday, Sep. 19, 2006, 01:53 AM Senh Duong writes: "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."
This is old news, but would playing a heavy really alienate his fanbase? I don't think it hurt Jet Li's career when he played the villain in Legal Wreckin 4. Then again, Jackie Chan turned down that role because he didn't wanna play a bad guy, so maybe there's something to that.
Rush hour has its funny moments, but the movie is really beneath that list of actors ratner is looking for. Besides, how much money are they going to get? This movie is Tuckers sole source of income.
Bruce Lee was my favorite martial artist yet I felt bad for Kareem in Game of Death. I thought it was beneath him, being one of the best centers in the World, getting beat up like a pup. Recreating that scene means Yao Ming will get beat up by Chris Tucker. It is 10 times worse since Chris couldn't even fight a woman in Rush 2.
Rush Hour will go down as one of the greatest lines of comedy action movies ever. It is a rare thing to find the chemistry Chan and Tucker have. It is no Lethal Weapon. But they are really good films you can enjoy with the entire family. I died laughing the other day when I heard "I'll b**** slap you back to Africa"
From what I've heard, Jackie Chan is hated in his home-country. It's no surprise to me that Yao would turn this down.
ah? no way... as far as I know, Jackie Chan is still the most liked/recognized on kung-fu related actors. - Jet Li, however, has fallen off considerably IMO...
Actually Jackie Chan is probably the most popular movie star in China. Everybody seems to like him. so I don't know where you head that he is hated. Yao ming though, as popular as he is, is more controversial...That is why there is YOH versus YOF. It would be cool to see Yao and Chen pair up together, oh well...
Well, I don't know about China. But I read Jackie Chan is kinda hated in Hong Kong where he originally came from and started off his career.
I think Brett Ratner needs use Jackie Chan to recruit Yao for the film. I'm sure Jackie can somehow convince Yao to play the role. Actually, I bet Yao doesn't want to do the movie because he doesn't want to lose a fight against Chris Tucker.
