ROTTEN TOMATOES: Sequel-Happy Eddie Murphy Back for "Beverly Hills Cop IV"

Sequel-Happy Eddie Murphy Back for "Beverly Hills Cop IV"

by Jen Yamato | November 30, 2006

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Get ready for more Axel Foley, because Eddie Murphy is bringing the street smart detective back to the big screen...again.

Variety reports that Murphy and "Transformers" producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura are spearheading the project at Paramount, which the studio hopes will revive the popular film franchise. A script is still in the works.

"Beverly Hills Cop" 1, 2, and 3

Di Bonaventura thinks another "Beverly Hills Cop" is just what audiences need: "Axel Foley is one of the great action-comedy characters, a character that Eddie loves. I'm lucky enough to help bring it back," di Bonaventura said. "This genre is missing from the landscape."

The original Martin Brest-directed "Beverly Hills Cop" opened to stellar numbers in 1984 -- $234 million in the U.S. -- and catapulted Murphy into box office stardom in what was only his fourth feature role. Three years later, Tony Scott ("D�j� Vu") took the reins and directed the first sequel to a $153 million domestic return.

One of Murphy's most recent roles, in "Daddy Day Care"

But then came 1994's "Beverly Hills Cop III," helmed by prolific comedy director John Landis ("Animal House," "The Blues Brothers," "Coming To America"). The third installment, set in a crooked LA theme park, only made $44 million domestically (with a budget estimated at between $55 and $70 million), effectively killing the franchise. Until now.

No production date has been set for the fourth Axel F. flick, although you can assume it'll be a while until the super-busy Murphy can clear his schedule; on his slate are the December musical "Dreamgirls," February's fat-suit extravaganza "Norbit," and the animated sequel "Shrek the Third," not to mention three more films in pre-production (sci-fi comedy "Starship Dave," a heist caper for Brett Ratner, and a reimagining of "Romeo and Juliet" for DreamWorks).

On a side note, it seems series regular Judge Reinhold should come back for "Beverly Hills Cop IV" -- his schedule seems rather free after this season's "Santa Clause 3 - The Escape Clause."

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(1-10 of 10 posts) | Reply

Defmonkey writes:
on Nov 30 2006 04:42 PM

Isn't it bad enough we're getting "Getting Old and Bomb Hard"? I was hoping they would of stayed with "Die Hard 4.0" Because that was the most lamest hilarious title for that series.

(Reply to this)

quigonjim1 writes:
on Nov 30 2006 10:47 PM

Good Eddie Murphy might be able to be funny again with an R Rating.

(Reply to this)

Throwback writes:
on Dec 01 2006 03:42 AM

Among other things, the worst that could happen is making it PG-13, which wouldn't surprise me, nowadays. But at least they're giving it a try. Axel Foley deserved better than BHC 3.

(Reply to this)

cptnspaulding writes:
on Dec 01 2006 05:40 AM

[b]Cool with "R"[/b]
Yea, I hope he gets back to his funny "R" ratings...I would like to see another 48 Hours done complete with Nick Nolte...that could be real good!

(Reply to this)

pota1967 writes:
on Dec 01 2006 07:32 AM

and I supose you people think Harrison Ford should consider coming back in another Indiana Jones movie. hahaha

Eddie should just stick to animated movies as he seems to be doing very well with them.

(Reply to this)

cptnspaulding writes:
on Dec 01 2006 08:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#850069)
No, Eddie needs to get back to his rated "R" comedies...that's when he was good & funny instead of all this kid's stuff! Now, don't get me wrong...there could not have been a better donkey in Shrek than Eddie!

(Reply to this)

Kid_Ikarus writes:
on Dec 01 2006 09:08 AM

Bowfinger was the last funny movie he was in. I hope Norbit is as funny as it looks, Eddie Murphy still has the funny bone in him, he just needs to raunch it up a lil more, like he did in his older movies, RAW style!

(Reply to this)

taran72 writes:
on Dec 01 2006 10:26 AM

You gotta love it when these actors decide to go one way with their careers, in hope of making more money or making "movies that their kids can watch" or whatever, then they change their minds. Eddie is taking a big chance that adults still give a crap.

(Reply to this)

fynejackie writes:
on Dec 01 2006 09:14 PM

BHC4, cant wait for that

(Reply to this)

jim61 writes:
on Sep 05 2007 06:50 AM

you all suck balls,its gonna be da shiznit

(Reply to this)