Eddie Murphy is back in "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

June 28, 2024

Courtesy Netflix

It's been 40 years since we first saw Eddie Murphy in the first "Beverly Hills Cop" action-comedy movie, and this time, he's back in the fourth sequel to the original, serving up the same excitement, comedy, and adventure we've come to expect on July 3 on Netflix.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Eddie Murphy, and Chad Oman and directed by Mark Molloy, the film marks Murphy's return to one of his most iconic roles as Axel Foley, the street-smart Detroit cop who initially traveled to Beverly Hills, California, in 1984 to solve the murder of his friend. In this installment, Foley returns to Beverly Hills to investigate the crime when his daughter Jane's (Taylour Paige) life is in danger. To solve the mystery, he teams up with Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Jane's ex-boyfriend and Axel's new partner.

Many familiar faces return, including former partner John Taggart, played by John Ashton, (his first appearance since "Beverly Hills Cop II"), and retired lieutenant Billy Rosewood, played by Judge Reinhold (who appeared in all four movies). Paul Reiser returns as Jeffrey Friedman, Axel's former partner in the Detroit Police Department. Bronson Pinchot returns as Serge, a former art gallery salesman turned weapons dealer, with Kevin Bacon as Captain Cade Grant, the police captain in the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Courtesy Netflix

When asked about Eddie Murphy, Molloy stated, "Murphy still had such a clear vision for Axel all these years later. He walked up and was just dialed in. He knew Axel, even Axel, at this point in his life. He told me he's his most important character. It's clear he really cares about Axel."

"I also wanted to make a film that is very modern and contemporary, but embraces nostalgia, not just for the films but of that era of movies. When you look back at them, those movies were really quite grounded and honest and a bit gritty, and I wanted to make a film like that about brilliant, larger-than-life characters," Molloy added.

This isn't the first time Foley has returned to Beverly Hills. He did so in the second sequel, Beverly Hills Cop II, in 1987 and the third sequel, Beverly Hills Cop III, in 1994.

The fourth sequel to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise was initially announced in the mid-90s, however the production of the movie was affected by changes in the screenplay, directors, and producers, causing significant delays. At one point, there were plans for a television series focused on Axel's son, Aaron (played by Brandon T. Jackson), to replace the movie. Despite Eddie Murphy's role as a producer for the series, CBS decided not to move forward with the show, leading to its cancellation. Murphy later expressed that he did not want to do "Beverly Hills Cop on TV."

On June 21, 2024, Eddie Murphy and Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that a fifth Beverly Hills Cop film was already in development.

Watch the trailer for "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" below and catch its premiere when it debuts on July 3 on Netflix.