Actor Eddie Murphy has announced that his days of doing stunt work are coming to an end.
For the 63-year-old star, returning to his “Beverly Hills Cop” role four decades after the original 1984 movie brought new challenges.
During a June 18 interview with Today, Mr. Murphy shared how shooting for his upcoming Netflix movie “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” was different from his earlier experiences as the starring character.
“It felt like, ‘old man,’” he said when asked what it felt like returning to that role. “I did ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ when I was 21, and I’m 63 now.”
The comedian also shared that he would prefer not to do stunts and shared an anecdote regarding his performance on set.
“Now, I would rather not do any stunts,” he said. “I’m shooting something, and the director said, ‘I want you to come out of this place and run down those steps.’ After we shot, he was like, ‘Can you come down with more urgency and faster?’ And I was like ‘no!’” he explained.
Mr. Murphy added that he won’t be doing anything action-related and doesn’t want to get calls about it unless he gets an offer of the type actor Morgan Freeman receives.
“I was like, ‘I’m not doing anything action. Don’t call me unless you offer me the same type of s*** you would offer Morgan Freeman,’” he joked.
In 2023, the “Coming to America” star told People that shooting for the new film was “hard” due to his age.
“It was a hard one,” he said. “I did Axel Foley when I was in my 20s. I am not in my 20s anymore.”
In January of that year, he shared how physically demanding the movie was for him, leading to some injuries. Nonetheless, he has high hopes for the film.
“It’s a really physical movie, and I had to do some physical stuff,” he told Collider Interviews. “I like to be on the couch. I don’t like to be jumping over and shooting and running.”
“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,” he added.
‘Beverly Hills Cop’
Mr. Murphy debuted as Axel Foley in the original “Beverly Hills Cop” film in 1984, reprising the starring role in sequels “Beverly Hills Cop II” in 1987 and “Beverly Hills Cop III” in 1994. This makes “Axel F” the fourth installment in the series, premiering July 3 on Netflix.
“‘Beverly Hills Cop was my first movie that I’m the lead in. If I travel overseas, they call me Axel Foley,” Mr. Murphy said. “Axel is an everyman. He’s not a superhero or a super-cop, he’s the everyman that rises to the occasion. I think that’s why people like him, and, more than anything, he’s funny.”
When asked about his future in the entertainment industry, he said his creativity will continue.
“I think I will keep being a creative person until the day I die,” he said.
Fans can expect a reunion of franchise characters alongside Axel Foley in the 2024 film, such as Billy Rosewood played by Judge Reinhold and John Taggart played by John Ashton. There will also be new faces, with characters played by Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
“Detective Axel Foley [Murphy] is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter Jane’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, she and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy,” the Netflix website reads.
Murphy’s Career
Mr. Murphy’s acting career took off following his appearance on the “Beverly Hills Cop” series in 1984. He continued to star in hits such as “Coming to America” in 1988 and “The Nutty Professor” in 1996. In 2007, he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film “Dreamgirls,” starring Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, and Jaime Foxx.
Before the “Norbit” star began acting in such roles, he worked as a stand-up comedian, eventually landing roles on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” In 2020, he won his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting the sketch comedy show.
He continued to showcase his comedic side throughout his acting, including for the family-oriented film series “Shrek,” with “Shrek” in 2001, “Shrek 2” in 2004, and “Shrek Forever After” in 2010.
From The Epoch Times
