A third "Rush Hour" movie is ready to go, with Chris Tucker expected to sign a two-picture, $40 million deal, Daily Variety reported Thursday.

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The paper said Tucker -- who has made only "Rush Hour" pictures since 1998 -- was expected to deliver the deal to New Line Thursday after a meeting with director Bret Ratner and screenwriter Jeff Nathanson. Plans call for "Rush Hour 3" to shoot this fall in Los Angeles and Paris, with a release in 2006.

Once Tucker is onboard, Ratner is set up for a $7.5 million payday and "Rush Hour" star Jackie Chan is set to earn $20 million for the project.

"Rush Hour" grossed $144 million domestically and $247 million worldwide in 1998. "Rush Hour 2" grossed $226 million domestically and $329 million worldwide in 2001.