- - Melania Trump documentary director Brett Ratner is in the Epstein files

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY December 21, 2025 at 1:09 AM

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"Rush Hour" director Brett Ratner, who is helming First Lady Melania Trump's upcoming documentary, is in a photo in the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Justice Department.

An undated photo shows the Florida-native filmmaker posing with a shirtless Jean-Luc Brunel, the late French modeling agent and longtime Epstein associate.

Brunel died by suicide in 2022 in his jail cell while facing charges in France of raping a minor and supplying minors to the disgraced financier.

The photo of Ratner and Brunel did not include date, location or context.

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American film director Brett Ratner poses with Jean-Luc Brunel in an undated photograph released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19, 2025. Images were released without locations, dates or context.

USA TODAY has reached out to Ratner's representative and his production company, RatPac Entertainment, for comment.

Many prominent names appear in photos among the newly released Epstein files, including former President Bill Clinton, actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker, as well as music icons Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

1 / 9What do the Epstein files show? See photos released by DOJ(L-R) Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Diana Ross in a photo that was part of thousands of files related to Jefferey Epstein released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19, 2025. The images were released by the US DOJ without location information, dates or context.Brett Ratner is directing 'Melania' and 'Rush Hour 4'

Ratner directed the first lady's new documentary titled "Melania," which showcases the 20 days before the former model returned to the White House following President Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Fox News published a trailer for the project on Dec. 17 ahead of its Jan. 30 release.

The documentary comes as Paramount is developing "Rush Hour 4," with Ratner set to return alongside stars Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

In 2017, six women accused Ratner of sexual misconduct, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, amid the #MeToo movement. No criminal charges were filed against him.

The fourth "Rush Hour" film was put on hold and Ratner maintained a low profile for years.

Warner Bros and Ratner parted ways in November 2017. "Melania" marks Ratner's first directorial feature since the 2014 action movie "Hercules."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brett Ratner, 'Rush Hour' director, photo in Epstein files

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