Axel Foley is coming back to screens… but a slightly smaller one this time. According to Deadline, Paramount has inked a one-time licensing deal with Netflix to make a new sequel to Beverly Hills Cop. The fourth film in the franchise, it’s set to bring back star Eddie Murphy and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. As Deadline points out, this sounds like a smart way to initiate a sequel to a beloved property without taking a big financial hit if it doesn’t succeed, which happened with recent box office disappointments like Doctor Sleep, Terminator: Dark Fate, and Zombieland 2.
This is the third deal between Paramount and Netflix. They previously collaborated on Cloverfield: God Particle, Annihilation, and Shaft. However, those various streaming roll-outs were for films that were already completed, making Beverly Hills Cop 4 the first time Netflix will build a Paramount title from the ground up. According to the Deadline report, Murphy and Bruckheimer will work with Netflix to find a screenwriter and director, and collaborate on the project through its release. Murphy recently collaborated with the streaming service on Dolemite Is My Name and is in discussions to film a stand-up comedy special to debut on the platform.
It’s been 35 years since the first Beverly Hills Cop film came out in 1984. The original follows Murphy’s street-smart Detroit cop Axel Foley, who visits Beverly Hills to solve the murder of his best friend. The movie, directed by Martin Brest, was a huge commercial and critical hit. It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Daniel Petrie Jr.’s script. It also made Murphy a huge star.
Two sequels followed: Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987 and Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994. Tony Scott directed II and John Landis tackled III, and both projects also had separate screenwriters. Murphy’s been the only consistent name throughout, so it’s great that Netflix is bringing him back to the franchise that helped make him a star. Judge Reinhold also starred in all three films, but the Deadline report doesn’t say if he’ll be back for fourths. We can’t imagine a Beverly Hills Cop movie without Billy Rosewood, so here’s hoping they loop him back in, too.
This isn’t the first time Paramount has attempted to bring Beverly Hills Cop back to screens. Rumors have swirled through the years about a possible fourth film, and for a time there was even going to be a TV show starring Murphy. Given Murphy’s recent success with Dolemite, it seems wise to continue that strong working relationship with Netflix.
This isn’t the only sequel to a beloved Eddie Murphy film in the works at Paramount. The company is also working on a follow-up to Coming to America, with Murphy back as Prince Akeem. Coming 2 America is a little further along; it’s already filming and has a release date of December 18, 2020.
No word on when Beverly Hills Cop 4 will land on Netflix, but we’ll keep you posted with updates.
Featured Image: Paramount Pictures