Name the last good movie Eddie Murphy was in. I'd have to go all the way back to Dreamgirls from 2006 I think. Since then, there hasn't been much worth mentioning. So maybe that's why Murphy is so hesitant to commit to Beverly Hills Cop 4. And as much as I love that franchise, I don't blame him.
The 1980s action comedy is getting primed for a comeback, and a fourth film has been rumored for quite some time. That rumor is becoming reality. Paramount has set a release date of March 2016, and Brett Ratner is set to direct. Let's hope he treats it more like the first Rush Hour and less like the sequels.
So with a date and director attached, what's the status of Eddie Murphy, who plays the lead, Det. Axel Foley. Well, he's non-committal.
Murphy spoke to Rolling Stone and said that he wants to see a good script before he signs on:
"Nah, they still trying to get that script right. I'm not doing a Beverly Hills Cop 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."
Smart choice, Mr. Murphy. However, his stance on the script just means that Paramount is probably going to move on without him. Michigan Film Office spokeswoman Michelle Grinnell said the studio is on-track to begin principal photography in the spring. Assuming that Murphy still hasn't signed on by then, it looks like Beverly Hills Cop 4 will have a new actor play Axel Foley and be a reboot.
Beverly Hills Cop 4 is set to release in theaters on March 25, 2016. That date sounds familiar. What else is releasing that day? … OH THAT'S RIGHT! BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF F*CKING JUSTICE! GREAT CHOICE PARAMOUNT.