The Beverly Hills Cop franchise is gearing up for its fourth installment, tentatively titled Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. This upcoming American action comedy film, directed by Mark Molloy, serves as a sequel to the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop III.
Eddie Murphy, who reprises his iconic role as Axel Foley, is producing the project. The wheels for the fourth Beverly Hills Cop movie were set in motion in the mid-1990s, when Eddie Murphy’s production company initiated its development. Over the years, various directors and screenwriters came and went from the project, including Brett Ratner and the directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.
Finally, in April 2022, Mark Molloy was brought on board to helm the film. Production kicked off in California that August and has since been completed. The highly anticipated sequel, which continues Axel Foley’s adventures was released on 3 July 2024 on the streaming platform Netflix.
The story brings Axel Foley back to Beverly Hills after his daughter Jane finds herself in harm’s way. To protect her and get to the bottom of the threat against her life,
Axel reunites with Jane’s ex-boyfriend as well as his longtime friends, detectives John Taggart and Billy Rosewood. Together, this unconventional team joins forces to turn up the heat and unravel a sinister conspiracy brewing beneath the surface.
There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this film, but today my aim is to change that…
Here are 13 Facts you might not know about Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
1. Reflecting on the experience of revisiting his iconic Axel Foley role, Eddie Murphy admitted it was challenging. “This was a tough one,” he told People magazine. “I originally played Axel Foley back when I was in my twenties, and I’m certainly not there anymore. Since it’s an action movie, it was physically grueling. But we persevered and made it through.”
2. Prior to the green light for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, there was an attempt to bring the franchise to the small screen. A television pilot was produced, which featured Eddie Murphy in the role of a police commissioner, with the premise revolving around his son taking on the mantle as a detective.
However, that pilot failed to move forward to series, paving the way for Murphy to eventually reprise his iconic Axel Foley character in a fourth theatrical installment instead.
3. The film brings back a host of familiar faces from the franchise’s earlier outings. Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold, who have been constants throughout the series, reunite once again. Also returning are John Ashton and Paul Reiser, both of whom featured in the first two Beverly Hills Cop movies.
Rounding out the reunion is Bronson Pinchot, who appeared in the original 1984 film as well as the third installment in 1994. This continuation of the beloved comedy series reassembles key players from its past while injecting new blood into the cast as well.
4. The film will be released 30 years after the third movie (which was released in 1994) and 40 years after the first movie (which was released in 1984).
5. The subtitle “Axel F” is a nod to the iconic theme song that has become synonymous with the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. The 1984 instrumental track of the same name, composed by Harold Faltermeyer, served as the memorable theme music for the original films.
By incorporating “Axel F” into the title of this fourth installment, the filmmakers are paying homage to that beloved musical motif that helped define the tone and identity of the series from its inception.
6. In an earlier interview this year, Joseph Gordon-Levitt gushed about the surreal experience of being part of the Beverly Hills Cop revival. “Working on ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ doesn’t even feel like work,” he marveled. “It’s like my life is a dream come true. Can you imagine? I’m in a helicopter alongside Eddie Murphy, trading jokes and cracking each other up.”
7. The screenplay for the film was co-written by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten, based on a story by Beall.
8. The film marks a significant milestone for Mark Molloy, as it serves as his inaugural foray into directing a major feature film.
9. Breaking from the visual approach of most previous installments, the upcoming film embraces a widescreen cinematic aesthetic. It’s only the second film in the franchise to employ the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, providing a broader canvas for the action.
Moreover, it’s the first movie in the franchise to utilize anamorphic Panavision lenses, which allow for a more immersive and distinct widescreen look. The only other film in the series shot in 2.39:1 was Beverly Hills Cop II back in 1987, though that one used the Super 35 format rather than anamorphic Panavision.
10. The film is rated R for language throughout, violence and brief drug use.
11. After its July 3 premiere on Netflix, the film garnered 41 million views within just five days and accumulated 80.7 million hours of viewing time. In its second week, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F continued to dominate as Netflix’s most-watched film, achieving 22.2 million views and 43.7 million hours of viewership.
12. On Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 188 critic reviews were positive, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site’s consensus states: “Content to let a very game Eddie Murphy bring all the heat, the fourth Beverly Hills Cop coasts on nostalgia but marks a welcome return for Axel Foley.” Metacritic, which calculates a weighted average, gave the film a score of 53 out of 100 based on 47 reviews, indicating “mixed or average” feedback.
13. While the movie is set in Beverly Hills and Detroit, a significant portion of principal photography took place in San Bernardino, California, starting August 29, 2022. This location was chosen for its proximity to Los Angeles and its ability to provide nondescript backdrops without recognizable landmarks, making it versatile for various scenes.
Well, there you have it, 13 Interesting Facts you might not have know about Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. If there’s something important that I’ve left out, feel free to comment below.
Check out the trailer for the film below:
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