Key Takeaways:
– Beverly Hills Cop was originally meant to star Sylvester Stallone, not Eddie Murphy.
– Murphy's involvement transformed the film from an action movie into a comedy.
– Scenes were improvised and changed to suit Murphy's comedic style.
– The film is still among the top-grossing R-rated movies, 40 years after its release.
Everybody knows Eddie Murphy is a comedy legend. But did you know he almost missed out on one of his most iconic roles? Let's dive into the captivating backstory of the Beverly Hills Cop series, a cornerstone of Murphy's career.
A Stallone Project Turned Murphy Classic
In the 1980s, Eddie Murphy was the shiny new comedy star. From his standout performances on Saturday Night Live to box-office hits like '48 Hrs,' Murphy's star was undoubtedly on the rise. So imagine the surprise when we discovered that Beverly Hills Cop, one of the definitive films of Murphy's career, was not originally intended for him at all – it was meant to star Sylvester Stallone!
If Stallone had stayed on board, we might have had a very different Beverly Hills Cop. Judge Reinhold, who played Detective Billy Rosewood in all four movies, recalled how Stallone's departure opened the door for Murphy's comedic genius. Stallone eventually left the film to do ‘Cobra,' paving the way for Murphy to step in and dramatically alter the course of the movie.
Breathing Humor into Action
Before Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop was shaping up to be an action flick. However, Murphy's uncanny ability to infuse comedy into any situation shifted the film's trajectory. Reinhold recalls the initially nerve-wracking yet ultimately fruitful transition, stating, “We weren't a comedy, we weren't. Eddie was fine flying by the seat of his pants, that's not a problem for him, but it was nerve-wracking for us.”
In order to make the script more fitting for Murphy's style, the team, including Sam Simon and director Martin Brest, encouraged an unstructured environment that allowed for improvisation. This approach resulted in a wave of hilarious content that would become one of the enduring highlights of Beverly Hills Cop.
The Improvised Comedy that Captivated Audiences
Every moment of Murphy's performance was not scripted. In fact, most of it was improvised on the spot. Reinhold elaborated, “One scene you may not know was improvised was… all the scenes with John [Ashton, Sergeant John Taggart] and I in the unmarked car on stakeout. Marty Brest, the original director, just gave us free reign. We shot a lot of film – that was expensive then.”
Reinterpreting the Script, Creating a Comedy Icon
Beverly Hills Cop, once it aligned with Murphy's comedic magic, became one of the funniest and most successful films of the 1980s. At the time, it was unprecedented for an R-rated comedy to do so well. It became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy and, even after 40 years, it still holds a position in the top-grossing R-rated movies list. It remains a testament to Murphy's transformation of an action script into a comedy sensation.
Today, as we laugh at the comical exploits of Axel F in Beverly Hills Cop, it's important to remember the unexpected journey of this film – from Stallone's action project to Murphy's comedic masterpiece. It truly is a testament to Murphy's comedic versatility and ingenuity, reminding us once again why he's one of the funniest people in Hollywood history.
Let's all take a moment to appreciate the comedic genius of Eddie Murphy, whose laugh-out-loud performance in Beverly Hills Cop still continues to entertain, delight, and inspire. So, where does Beverly Hills Cop sit on your personal list of funniest Eddie Murphy movies?
