Netflix is apparently working on a long-awaited sequel to the classic Eddie Murphy comedy Beverly Hills Cop movie, which will see the actor and comedian return to the role after more than 20 years.
The original 1984 movie was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it catapulted Murphy into international superstardom. In it, Murphy plays a street-smart detective from 80s Detroit named Axel Foley.
After a hitman assassinates his close friend, Foley tracks the perp to Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, and quickly finds himself a fish-out-of-water as the rough-around-the-edges Foley adapts to the more straight-laced California.
Check out the trailer for the original movie below:Two sequels followed: one in 1987, and another in 1994. But now The Hollywood Reporter claims that the world's most popular streaming service has acquired the rights to the franchise and that Eddie Murphy is set to reprise the role of Axel. Meanwhile, Jerry Bruckheimer set to produce, as part of a lucrative multi-picture deal with Paramount.
In an October 2019 interview with Collider, Murphy confirmed that he was attached to the project, with the caveat that he needs to finish work on the sequel to his 1988 comedy Coming To America.
Murphy stated: "Yeah, that’s what we’re doing after Coming To America 2. We’re doing Beverly Hills Cop [4] and then the plan is to get back on stage and do stand-up."
Murphy added: "That’s what I’ll be doing mostly is stand-up. These movies and Saturday Night Live [Murphy will guest host in December], it’s kind of like… I’m looking at it as a bookend. If I decided I wanted to stay on the couch forever, I ended it on a funny note."
Previously, Murphy had been ambivalent on the subject of reprising the role, stating in 2015 in an interview with Rolling Stone: "I’m not doing a Beverly Hills Cop [film] unless they have a really incredible script. I’ve read a couple things that look like they can make some paper. But I’m not doing a sh*tty movie just to make some paper. The sh*t got to be right."