Eddie Murphy is making a comeback to Beverly Hills in the initial trailer for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” the latest addition to his cherished classic action-comedy series. In this new installment, the 62-year-old actor and comedian reprises his role as Detective Axel Foley, who is “back patrolling the streets of Beverly Hills.” The official synopsis reveals that Foley, together with his daughter (Taylour Paige), teams up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old allies Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) after his daughter’s life is threatened. Their mission is to intensify efforts and unveil a conspiracy.
In the original 1984 film, a major box-office hit that catapulted Murphy to international stardom, Axel Foley is a Detroit detective who takes matters into his own hands and heads to southern California to solve the murder of a childhood friend (James Russo). Although Foley’s unconventional methods and fast-talking demeanor initially clash with local lawmen Rosewood (Reinhold, 66) and Taggart (Ashton, 75), the men eventually form a bond and successfully bring down the criminals.
According to producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Murphy in “Axel F” remains “the same Axel Foley.” Bruckheimer stated on Netflix’s Tudum, “He’s still out there on the streets, doing what he does. With age, you get wiser, but he still has that twinkle in his eye.” The director, Molloy, emphasized the humor in the film, saying, “Some of the funniest moments in Axel F are when Eddie’s improvising.” Molloy also noted that creating the right environment and casting the right people around Murphy were crucial in allowing him to excel.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Murphy mentioned that continuing Foley’s story after four decades was a challenging experience, especially given the physical demands of an action movie. He remarked, “It was a hard one. I did Axel Foley when I was in my 20s. I am not in my 20s anymore. It was an action movie. So it was a rough one. But we got through it.”
The cast of “Axel F” also includes Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman, Bronson Pinchot as Serge, and Kevin Bacon as Captain Cade Grant, according to Tudum. Fans can anticipate the release of “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” on Netflix in the summer of 2024.