Will there be 'Beverly Hills Cop 5'? Eddie Murphy teases franchise's future
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel' finally arrives on Netflix, Eddie Murphy has hinted that a fifth installment is in the works.
The first film of the franchise, released in 1984, made Murphy an international star. The blockbuster's success led to two further installments, released in 1987 and 1994. The fourth film of the franchise was announced in the mid-90s but it took 30 years to materialize.
Fans had given up the hopes of witnessing the return of Murphy in his iconic role of Axel Foley. But now when the film finally sees the light of day, one can't stop wondering if the action comedy franchise has returned with full glory, set to offer more than anticipated.
Eddie Murphy confirms 'Beverly Hills Cop 5'
While discussing the future of the franchise with Variety, Eddie Murphy confirmed that 'Beverly Hills Cop 5' is in the works.
The actor said that there are "a couple of stories in mind" for the next movie. He added that the film's creative team is "developing it. If it comes together, we’ll be doing another one."
In an exclusive interview with Extra, Murphy said, “I don't know what direction they've gone in... Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the movie, he's developing it and they got the guy that wrote this last one, and I'm waiting on the script.”
However, Netflix, the streaming partner of 'Beverly Hills Cop 4', hasn't yet made any formal announcement for the fifth installment.
What happens in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'?
In 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F', the fourth installment of the franchise, Detroit Police Lieutenant Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter Jane's life is threatened. The father-daughter duo teams up with some old and new pals to uncover a conspiracy.
In a run time of 115 minutes, Murphy offers a laughter riot as he reunites with the OG cast members Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot, as well as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon.
The official synopsis for 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' reads, "Forty years after his unforgettable first case in Beverly Hills, Detroit cop Axel Foley returns to do what he does best: solve crimes and cause chaos."
What to expect in 'Beverly Hills Cop 5'?
At this point, we can't anticipate the storyline of the fifth installment as the makers have still not finalized the idea. While Eddie Murphy will return as Axel, it remains unknown which cast members from the fourth installment will rejoin the fifth.
While talking to Extra, Murphy said that when the franchise began, he was "just a normal 21-year-old, didn't have no kids and just had few life experiences, and now I'm a grandpa with 10 kids and a granddaughter.”
He asserted that his character of Axel has also matured with time. He was quoted as, “It's a whole universe between Axel Foley then and Axel Foley now — so much has changed. It's age-appropriate. The character in this movie is different from that Axel Foley. He's been through marriage and he's estranged from his daughter. This guy is more mature than I think the old Axel."
Though we'll have to wait a little longer for concrete details on the fifth installment, we can anticipate that the team won't disappoint us and will continue to do justice to the franchise's legacy.
How to stream 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'?
'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' skipped a theatrical release and went directly for the digital premiere. The film directed by Mark Molloy is available to stream on Netflix from July 3, 2024.
The basic Netflix subscription starts at $6.99 per month, with the premium plan going up to $23.
'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' trailer