If all would have went according to Paramount’s original plan, fans would have already seenBeverly Hills Cop 4in theaters, since the studio set a March 25, 2016release datefor the long-awaited sequel back in 2014. However, last May, the studio pulled the movie from its 2016 slot, where it would have faced the superhero blockbusterBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, so it could continue developing the sequel, which hasEddie Murphyset to return as Axel Foley. Today we finally have a new update onBeverly Hills Cop 4, with the studio bringing aboard filmmakersAdil El ArbiandBilall Fallah(Black) to direct.
Deadlinereports that producerJerry Bruckheimerand starEddie Murphyhave been diligently developing the script byAndre NemecandJosh Appelbaum(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows). When they met withAdil El ArbiandBilall Fallah, they learned how important theBeverly Hills Copfranchise truly was to the filmmakers. This project would mark a huge step up for the them, whose last projectBlackwon the Discovery Award at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
While no story details have been confirmed yet, we reported back in 2014 that the sequel was set to be shot inDetroit, to take advantage of a $13.5 million tax rebate. This new report claims the story will bring Axel Foley back to his Detroit origins, with the studio hoping tostart productioneither later this year or in early 2017. Paramount hasn’t set a release date at this time, but it’s possible the sequel could be ready for release in late 2017, if everything goes according to plan.
The story reportedly is set during the worst winter on record in Detroit, with the studio still planning on shooting in and around the Detroit area. It isn’t known if there are plans to bring back originalBeverly Hills CopstarsJudge Reinhold,John AshtonorPaul Reiserfor the sequel, but now that the sequel finally has directors on board, hopefully we’ll hear more about this sequel soon. The first threeBeverly Hills Copmovies have taken in over $735 million worldwide, with the first movie’s $234.7 domestic take holding the record for decades as the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time, beforeThe Hangoverbroke that mark with $277.3 million in 2009.
Adil El ArbiandBilall Fallahmade their directorial debut in 2014 withImage, which they followed up last year withBlack, neither of which have been distributed in the U.S. quite yet.Brett Ratnerwas once attached to direct this sequel, but it isn’t known if he will stay on as a producer or not. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more updates onBeverly Hills Cop 4as soon as more information comes in.
