It’s been nearly 30 years, but one of Eddie Murphy’s most beloved and iconic characters is finally making his roaring comeback. Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F“, reuniting Murphy with his brash, rule-breaking Detroit detective Axel Foley from the hit 1980s franchise.
This time around, Foley finds himself back in the glitzy California locale when his daughter’s life is threatened. She is portrayed by rising star Taylour Paige, who teams up with her tough-as-nails father and a new partner, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, to uncover a dangerous conspiracy.
Fortunately, Axel won’t be going it completely alone. Franchise veterans Judge Reinhold and John Ashton are both reprising their respective roles as the cantankerous Detective Rosewood and the perpetually aggravated Sergeant Taggart. Their squabbling yet grudgingly effective dynamic with Foley formed the core comedic heartbeat of the original trilogy.
Behind the camera, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is helmed by director Mark Molloy, working from a script by Will Beall as well as the writers behind the acclaimed “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” – Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten, who is also a producer.
The Netflix project marks Foley’s first theatrical adventure since 1994’s “Beverly Hills Cop III”, which capped the initial run of films that cemented Murphy as one of the biggest box office draws of the 1980s. The original 1984 smash “Beverly Hills Cop” was not only that year’s highest-grossing film domestically, but also scored an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
While plot details are still tightly under wraps, the trailer teases all the over-the-top action, sardonic humor, and explosive set pieces fans would expect from an Axel Foley caper. Murphy seems to be having an absolute blast sliding back into the iconic role that kickstarted his transition from comedy superstar to bona fide leading man nearly four decades ago.
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For longtime devotees who have been clamoring for Foley’s return, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” represents a chance to reunite with an old friend and revel in nostalgic familiarity. But theNextGen supporting cast additions hint at an attempt to pass the baton to a new generation as well.
When Axel Foley roars back into action hitting streaming on July 3rd, the inimitable maverick will be bringing plenty of fresh backup to aid his brash, freewheeling antics. Beverly Hills may never be the same again.
