Eddie Murphy reprises his ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ role.Photo:getty; everett collection
getty; everett collection
ForEddie Murphy, stepping back into Axel Foley’s shoes after decades away was a bit of an ordeal.
The actor, 62, tells PEOPLE shootingBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley, the fourth installment of the action-comedy franchise that Murphy first filmed 40 years ago, was more difficult this time.
“It was a hard one,” he tells PEOPLE. “I did Axel Foley when I was in my 20s. I am not in my 20s anymore.”
“It was an action movie. So it was a rough one. But we got through it,” he continues.
In the original 1984 film — which was a box office smash and shot Murphy to international stardom — theSaturday Night Livealum’s character is a Detroit detective who goes rogue and heads to southern California to solve the murder of his childhood friend (James Russo).
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton in ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’.everett collection
everett collection
His unorthodox ways initially grate on local lawmen Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton), but the men bond and bring down the bad guys.
While promoting the comedyYou Peopleearlier this year, Murphy talked about his the long road back toBeverly Hills Cop.
“Jerry Bruckheimer, the original producer, when he got involved and he started developing the script, and he knew whatBeverly Hills Copis supposed to be, when he got back involved that’s when it all started to come together,” Murphy toldCollider.
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Bronson Pinchot and Eddie Murphy in ‘Beverly Hills Cop III’.everett collection
“We tried for years and years, maybe 10, 12 years —and I must have read five or six different scripts, and it was never right, and the studio was [like], ‘Let’s go! Here it is!’” he continued.
“Jerry Bruckheimer got back in there and he knows his s–t. And he put it together…. He put all the pieces in place that were required for us to make a great movie. I’m really excited for people to see it,” Murphy added.
“It’s a really physical movie and I had to do some physical stuff…. I like to be on the couch, I don’t like to be jumping over and shooting and running,” he quipped. “And I had to do some jumping and shooting and running. And as a result… at the end of the movie, I had a knee brace and my back is messed up. But the movie is gonna be special.”
Netflix, which will distribute the film, announced in 2022 that original cast members Reinhold, Ashton,Paul ReiserandBronson Pinchotare all returning.
New cast membersincludeKevin Bacon,Joseph Gordon-LevittandZolaactressTaylour Paige.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foleyhas no official release date.
source: people.com
