Varden Reynard

Minister Varden Reynard is the French ambassador and Chairman of the World Criminal Court and the secondary antagonist of Rush Hour 3. He is Kenji's partner in crime and a member of the Triads.

He is portrayed by Max von Sydow, who also portrays Ming the Merciless, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and Brewmeister Smith.

Role in film
Varden Reynard first appeared at the world criminal court, discussing what the Triads should do.

When Soo-Yung was brought to the French Embassy, he told her that her father is okay and he said that his people would not leave his side. When Soo-Yung told Inspector Lee and James Carter that they made her a promise, the limo exploded, almost killing all of them, presumably caused by Reynard.

In Paris, he appeared again in Lee's room, discussing that Shy Shen is not a person, but a list. He then gives Lee a ticket to find it. When Carter, Lee, and Genevieve went to Reynard, they said they had Shy Shen. When Lee said that it was never the list, they realized that he had been working for the Triads all along. When Lee asked him why he came to his room, he told him that Genevieve was going to be killed, murdered, and slaughtered by him and his men.

After Lee and Carter fall from the Eiffel Tower following Kenji's death, they are confronted by Reynard, who is holding Genevieve hostage, and threatening to kill her and frame Lee and Carter for her death. Just as he was about to shoot her, Reynard is shot from behind by George. The stunned Reynard walks towards the water fountain and falls dead into it.

Trivia

 * Reynard is based on Juntao from the first film. Both were friends of Han, who are later revealed to be the main villain in the later parts of the films.
 * Unlike Juntao, he does not reveal to Han that he is working for the Triads. Only Thomas Griffin revealed himself to Han as Juntao, the leader of the Triads.