Update 12/29/21: In new comments, Ice Cube explains Chris Tucker did not appear in Next Friday due to religious reasons.
***
Original Story: What happened to Chris Tucker after starring in the Rush Hour trilogy? In 2020, the American comedian's most popular movies offer comfort viewing for locked-down streamers, however there's not much to consume beyond 2007. Still, Tucker remains a relevant figure within the industry, certainly after appearing in the Netflix documentary Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.
Much like fellow comic Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker rose to fame during the early '90s. With his knack for physical humor and pitch-perfect comedic timing, the Georgia native infused some Southern charm into the 1994 film House Party 3 and the TV show Hangin' with Mr. Coooper. By the mid-'90s, Tucker established a cinematic legacy by first stealing the show as Smokey in Friday, and then by co-starring in a string of high-profile features. With roles in Panther and Dead Presidents, his fan base grew within black culture. Tucker then reached the mainstream via films like Money Talks, The Fifth Element, and Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown. Collectively, these Tucker performances displayed his viability as an A-list star, and also his comedic versatility, regardless of a film's production budget.
From a 2020 perspective, Tucker is inarguably best known to international moviegoers as James Carter from the Rush Hour trilogy. For the original 1998 franchise starter, Tucker reunited with Money Talks director Brett Ratner and starred opposite a true martial arts icon, Jackie Chan. The blend of differing comedic approaches and cultural perspectives allowed the franchise to go anywhere, literally and figuratively, as both Rush Hour and Rush Hour II wildly outperformed their budgets at the box office. By 2007, Rush Hour 3's production cost reached $140 million, yet the financial return was just OK, along with the film as a whole. After a rather busy career prior to Rush Hour, Tucker didn't accept any other movie roles during the franchise's entire run. According to reports, he decided to be more selective after becoming a born-again Christian in 1997, the year before Rush Hour released.
Because Tucker's life changed spiritually nearly a quarter-century ago, his comedic approach naturally changed as well. Rather than reprising the foul-mouthed Smokey in the Friday franchise, he instead rode the Rush Hour train and reaped the financial rewards. Incidentally, Tucker didn't need to sustain an active Hollywood career, primarily because he didn't need the money. When Tucker did return, it was for a small supporting role in the Best Picture Oscar nominee Silver Linings Playbook, a romantic comedy starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Since then, Tucker has only appeared in Ang Lee's 2016 war drama Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. He also starred in a 2015 Netflix comedy special. During an April 2019 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tucker jokes that his family was partially responsible for a failed comedy club venture, and that he closed down the business after one year because it was going to "mess up" his "movie money."
Even though Tucker has reportedly had tax problems in the past decade, it doesn't appear that he's been forced out of the business. A Rush Hour 4 movie has been in the works for years, with the latest news being that both leads had been working with the studio on a script. At age 48, Chris Tucker seems to be enjoying yet another extended break from the movie industry, and could certainly pick up where he left off, assuming that his comedic style will still resonate with moviegoers.