It’s getting close to three decades now since we first got word of a potential fourth outing for Eddie Murphy’s street-smart Detective Axel Foley, and it seems that Paramount Pictures isn’t quite ready to give up on Beverly Hills Cop 4 just yet.
The long-awaited sequel came closest to becoming a reality a few years back under directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, with Netflix even striking a deal to distribute, only for things to fall quiet once more as the filmmaking duo turned their attention first to Bad Boys for Life, followed by the currently-in-production DC superhero movie Batgirl.
As reported by Deadline, Al Arbi and Fallah are now off the project as Paramount now looks to move forward under Mark Molloy, an Australian commercials director who recently gained attention – and a DGA Award – for his work with Apple. While further details are being kept under wraps, Eddie Murphy is still expected to return as Axel Foley and Netflix remains attached to distribute.
The first Beverly Hills Cop was released in 1984 and saw Murphy’s Detroit police detective heading to Beverly Hills to investigate his best friend’s murder. A huge hit with $316 million worldwide, it was followed by sequels in 1987 and 1994 to diminishing box office returns and reception.
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