The former standup stands to collect the hefty paycheck for the sequel to 1998's Rush Hour, the action-comedy costarring Jackie Chan, according to Daily Variety.
Not bad for a guy who got a (relatively) measly $3 million for the first flick.
But Tucker better hope his chemistry with Chan is as good off-screen as on, because Chan is key to Tucker's money-making. New Line still needs to sign up Chan for the Rush Hour reprise--the studio is offering the martial artist a $15 million payday.
If Chan climbs aboard as expected, then the lead actors' salaries alone will equal the original film's total budget of $35 million. (The first flick grossed over $140 million domestically and another $100 abroad.)
The Rush Hour 2 deal would rocket Tucker to the show-biz superstar status known by the likes of Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, Will Smith, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler, who all receive at least $20 million per film.
Tucker would become the third black actor to reach the $20 million salary milestone, behind Smith and Eddie Murphy, who just got 20 big ones for The Nutty Professor sequel, The Klumps. (Julia Roberts is Hollywood's highest-priced woman, making just under $20 million a flick.)
And, even though Tucker hasn't made a film since Rush Hour, it's been a good year. Earlier this month, Tucker signed to team up again with Friday director F. Gary Gray in 20th Century Fox's The Black Knight for a whopping $15 million. He also has two other projects in development: a standup concert movie and the comedy Guess Who's President.