After an absence of nearly thirty years, Eddie Murphy is set to revive his iconic character, Axel Foley, in an upcoming installment of the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise. Netflix recently unveiled the trailer for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley,” which is scheduled for release on the streaming platform in the coming year.
The trailer, shared across Netflix’s social media channels, followed a teasing post on X (formerly Twitter), where a snapshot of Murphy donning his recognizable Detroit Lions jacket hinted at the character’s return, captioned with a simple declaration: “He’s back. Axel Foley returns in 2024!”
Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley (Credits: TV Line)
Having last portrayed Foley in 1994’s “Beverly Hills Cop 3,” a film criticized by both audiences and Murphy himself, the actor’s return to the role brings anticipation. Despite decades of stalled attempts to produce a fourth film, Netflix plans to launch the much-anticipated sequel in the summer of 2024, promising a mix of familiar faces and fresh additions to the cast.
The original “Beverly Hills Cop” hit screens in 1984, propelling Murphy to superstardom with its blend of buddy-cop action and comedy. Paramount distributed the first trilogy, but Netflix will take the reins for the fourth installment, with Jerry Bruckheimer returning as the producer.
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley” reunites Murphy with franchise veterans Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. Joining the ensemble are new stars like Kevin Bacon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Taylour Paige. Bacon assumes the role of a special unit officer in the Los Angeles Police Department, while Gordon-Levitt portrays a by-the-book cop partnering with Foley. Paige takes on the character of Foley’s criminal defense attorney daughter.
Directed by Mark Molloy, the fourth film sees an older Axel Foley drawn back to Beverly Hills to investigate the mysterious death of a longtime confidant. Uncovering corruption within the local police force, Foley teams up with a young officer to expose the wrongdoing.
In an interview with Empire, Bruckheimer highlighted the chemistry between Murphy and Gordon-Levitt, describing them as a “hysterical” comedic duo. He also expressed confidence in Murphy’s performance, assuring fans of a “brilliant” portrayal, emphasizing the unpredictable and nostalgic charm that the actor brings to the set each day.
