One of the most memorable moments in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” was a hilarious line improvised by Eddie Murphy. In a scene where Murphy’s character, Axel Foley, is apprehended by two female police officers after a high-speed chase, he delivers a line that had everyone in stitches. The twist? One of the officers is played by Murphy’s own daughter, Bria.
The scene unfolds with Foley crashing a police meter maid cart on Rodeo Drive. As he’s being cuffed, he tells the officer, “It’s very embarrassing.” Bria’s character retorts, “You should have thought about that before your little joy ride.” But the real kicker comes when Foley, squeezed into their tiny squad car, quips, “Ya’ll are the LEGO cops.” This line, as director Mark Molloy revealed, was completely improvised by Murphy.
“That’s all Eddie,” Molloy told Business Insider. Molloy, making his feature directing debut with “Axel F,” noted that Murphy often improvised during filming, though usually in the form of small one-liners. “He likes to get it on the page first,” Molloy explained. “We have to have something on the page first that really works, and then Eddie is going to take it from there.”
Murphy’s improvisational skills were also on display in other scenes, including one involving a helicopter with co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and another with a valet played by comic Affion Crockett. But how did Bria Murphy end up playing one of the police officers? According to Molloy, Eddie Murphy mentioned that his daughter would love to be involved in the film. Initially, there was talk of her playing a different role, but Molloy had a better idea. “I told him, ‘If she’s going to be involved, I have the perfect role for her. I think she should arrest you!’ So he gets arrested by his daughter.”
Bria Murphy, 34, is Eddie’s eldest daughter from his marriage with ex-wife Nicole Mitchell. She has previously starred in movies like “The Perfect Match” (2016) and “Amateur Night” (2016). Her cameo in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” adds a delightful layer of family fun to the film.
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is now streaming on Netflix, bringing Axel Foley back to Beverly Hills for a new adventure. The film sees Foley teaming up with both old friends and new faces, including his daughter Jane, played by Taylour Paige. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer praised Murphy’s versatility, saying, “Eddie’s such an incredible artist. He can do drama, he can do comedy –– he can do anything. And he’s the same Axel Foley. He’s still on the streets. He’s still doing what he does. Obviously with age you get wiser. But he still has the twinkle in his eye.”
Director Mark Molloy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of creating the right environment for Murphy to shine. “Some of the funniest moments in Axel F are when Eddie’s improvising. For me, a big part of my job was to create the right environment, cast the right people around Eddie to allow him to do what he does best.”
Among the new cast members is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Bobby Abbott, a BHPD officer with a different approach than Axel. For Gordon-Levitt, working with Murphy was a dream come true. He recalled watching the original “Beverly Hills Cop” at a young age and even teaching himself to play the iconic theme song on his grandfather’s piano.
The plot of “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” revolves around Axel Foley returning to Beverly Hills after his daughter Jane’s life is threatened. He teams up with new partner Bobby Abbott and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to uncover a conspiracy. The cultural contrast between Detroit and Beverly Hills remains a central theme, as Foley navigates the ritzy streets of Los Angeles.
The film also features returning cast members like Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot, who reprise their roles from the original series. Newcomers include Taylour Paige as Jane Saunders, Kevin Bacon as the new police captain Cade Grant, and other notable actors.
Eddie Murphy’s return to the role of Axel Foley is a nostalgic trip for fans, but it also brings new elements to the character. “Axel’s not a kid anymore, it’s not his first time in Beverly Hills,” Murphy told Netflix. “At this point, he’s been there many times, has friends there, and has seen the crazy stuff that’s in the city. He’s not taken by surprise.”
Murphy also highlighted the emotional hook of the film, which centers on Axel’s relationship with his daughter Jane. “He’s a whole different person with the changes that he’s made in life and his relationship with his daughter Jane,” Murphy said. “That is the emotional hook that you need for these movies. For Axel to get involved, he’s got to have skin in the game.”
Fans of the original “Beverly Hills Cop” series will find plenty to love in “Axel F,” but the film also stands on its own for new viewers. “Anyone that saw the original Beverly Hills Cop, you’re going to love this movie,” Murphy promised. “And even if you haven’t seen it, this movie stands by itself and you can jump right into it.”
The film’s premiere was a star-studded event, with appearances by Murphy, Gordon-Levitt, Reinhold, Bacon, Ashton, Reiser, and Pinchot, as well as director Molloy and special guests like Martin Lawrence and Big Sean. The event celebrated Axel Foley’s Motown roots with a Motor City mini-mart, Detroit Lions letterman jackets, and a performance by Big Sean.
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is now available for streaming on Netflix, almost 40 years after the original film hit theaters. As director Mark Molloy reminisced, “I remember as a kid in Australia, watching it for the first time. I had an Axel Foley poster up on my bedroom wall just like everyone else, even in Australia.”
For those looking to relive the magic of the original “Beverly Hills Cop” or discover it for the first time, the Oscar-nominated classic is also streaming on Netflix.
Source: Business Insider, Netflix
