Fourteen years after the tragic passing of his brother Dan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt found a remarkable way to honor his memory by starring alongside Eddie Murphy in the upcoming film Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. The late Daniel Gordon-Levitt was a devoted fan of Murphy’s work, including his performances on Saturday Night Live and in movies such as Coming to America and the original Beverly Hills Cop. It was Dan who introduced Joseph to the charismatic comedian’s extensive body of work.
“I had a very sweet conversation with Eddie about how Dan introduced me to his work,” Gordon-Levitt shared. “Eddie and I connected over that shared history. He’s a family man, like me, and we got to bond over our mutual experiences as fathers. It was very special.”
In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a new installment produced by Netflix, Eddie Murphy reprises his iconic role as Axel Foley for the fourth time. Axel returns to Beverly Hills in this gripping tale after his daughter’s life is threatened. This time, he teams up with a new partner, Detective Bobby Abbott, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, to get to the bottom of the mystery.
One unique aspect of their partnership, besides their on-screen dynamic, was their shared love for music. Eddie Murphy has enjoyed musical success with three studio albums and several popular singles, including the classic “Party All the Time.” Meanwhile, Gordon-Levitt has also showcased his musical talents in various live performances and even in the recent romantic film Flora and Son, where he played a guitarist.
“We actually talked about music probably more than anything else on set,” exclaimed Gordon-Levitt, known for his role in the indie hit 500 Days of Summer. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to jam together, which would have been amazing. One day, I hope to do a full-on musical, and maybe Eddie and I can star in that together.”
At the world premiere of the film, held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Gordon-Levitt reflected on his previous experience playing sidekick to another legendary character. In Christopher Nolan’s 2012 superhero blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, he portrayed John Blake/Robin, a young cop who aids Batman in saving Gotham City.
“Ah, of course, and they are both cops!” Gordon-Levitt said with a smile. “I’ve got my Beverly Hills PD badge to go with my Gotham City PD badge, which I still treasure. It’s a fun commonality, even though the movies and characters are very different.”
As for his own directorial aspirations, it has been 11 years since Gordon-Levitt made his debut with Don Jon.
. Does he plan to direct again soon? “I love making stuff and hope to direct a feature soon. Recently, I produced a television series called Mr. Corman on Apple TV+. It’s an odd, beautiful show where I got to explore everything I wanted artistically, in my own unique way.”
For Eddie Murphy, returning to the role of Axel Foley was all about recapturing the magic that made the original Beverly Hills Cop films so beloved by audiences.
“The third film didn’t hit as hard as the first two,” Murphy admitted. “We weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; rather, we focused on getting back to what made the franchise great.”
Despite the passing of decades, Murphy is confident that the buddy cop action-comedy formula still holds universal appeal. “If you do it right, the Beverly Hills Cop movies work for any generation. The last 10-15 years have been dominated by action films with heavy emphasis on visual effects and superheroes. Axel Foley is a different kind of hero—an everyman who rises to the occasion without following the rules. People relate to him because he’s the guy they’d want to have a beer with.”
Murphy also reflected on how much he has changed since he first donned the role at the age of 21. “I was just a kid back then, fresh out of adolescence. Over the years, I’ve grown, gotten married, had children, and now, I’m even a grandfather. Whenever I see scenes from the original Beverly Hills Cop, it feels like looking at high school yearbook photos.”
Yet, some things remain consistent. The camaraderie between Murphy and his original co-stars—Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot—has persisted, and they all return for this fourth installment.
“We all aged, but the cool part is that this evolution is reflected in the movie and the script as well,” Murphy stated. “Our characters have grown older, experienced new relationships, and changed in many ways.”
Mark your calendars, as Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F makes its debut on Netflix on July 3rd. With its blend of nostalgic charm and fresh excitement, it’s set to be a significant summer hit with Eddie Murphy once again at the helm, joined by the talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a heartfelt tribute to his late brother.
