Eddie Murphy‘s comeback vehicle will have to wait a little while longer, as Paramount has taken Brett Ratner‘s “Beverly Hills Cop 4” off its release schedule, a studio insider with knowledge of the situation has told TheWrap.
It was just more than one year ago that Paramount announced it would release “Beverly Hills Cop 4” on March 25, 2016. While the film remains in development, it has not moved forward as quickly as Paramount originally envisioned, though recent movement in the studio’s executive suites has complicated matters.
The delay may ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise for “Beverly Hills Cop 4,” which would’ve found itself going head-to-head with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” on March 25, 2016. As much goodwill as audiences still have for Axel Foley, it’s hard to compete with the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel.
Jerry Bruckheimer is returning to produce “Beverly Hills Cop 4,” and the last reported writers were Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. The sequel is expected to take Murphy’s beloved cop Axel Foley back to his Detroit roots
This past January, Murphy told Rolling Stone that script concerns were the primary reason behind the continued delay.
“They[‘re] still trying to get that script right. I’m not doing a ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ unless they have a really incredible script. I’ve read a couple things that look like they can make some paper, but I’m not doing a shitty movie just to make some paper. The shit got to be right,” said Murphy.
Paramount recently moved its big-budget gamble “Monster Trucks” from this year’s crowded Christmas frame to March 18, 2016. That decision was the writing on the wall for the delay of “Beverly Hills Cop 4,” as the studio wouldn’t likely release two big movies on consecutive weekends.
Representatives for Ratner and Bruckheimer declined to comment.