Most modern-day television and streaming fans will conjure up images of Mike Ehrmantraut fromBreaking BadandBetter Call Saulwhen they hear the nameJonathan Banks. But Banks has been a player in Hollywood for the better part of 50 years. And he also famously portrayed Victor Maitland’s (Steven Berkoff) muscle/right-hand man in the originalBeverly Hills Cop. And in a recent interview, Banks dished on all of the sequels which spawned from Eddie Murphy’s 1984 hit film. Banks said in an exclusive interview withScreen Rant:
“I’ve never seen Beverly Hills Cop 2, [and] I’ve never seen Beverly Hills Cop 3. Marty Brest directed a really good film in Beverly Hills Cop 1. I got dead and that was it for me. And, you know, I knew that [3 was bad]. We could talk about all these remakes that they make, and I’m telling you, somebody needs to… I’ll give you an idea: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Who brought that book out to make a film out of it, you know? Yes, it’s a wonderful book, but I think there are probably a lot of gems out there that haven’t been discovered, and it’s easier to make Superman 32, you know?”
Even armed with a shotgun, Banks' broodingBeverly Hills Copcharacter, Zack, couldn’t take down Axel Foley (Murphy) at the film’s conclusion. As the two men played a game of cat and mouse in Maitland’s palatial estate, Axel got the upper hand and gunned down Zack, which meant no sequel for the supporting actor whenBeverly Hills Cop IIopened in 1987.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Trailer Reveals Eddie Murphy’s Long-Awaited Return
New Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F trailer finds Eddie Murphy returning to one of his most iconic roles for a Netflix sequel.
Beverly Hills Cop Sequels
Beverly Hills Cophas made $316.4 million theatrically worldwide since it first dropped in theaters in 1984. The success of Eddie Murphy’s original go-round as Axel Foley prompted the production of two sequels. In 1987,Beverly Hills Cop IImade $300 million globally to keep the money train rolling, but then everything derailed with 1994’sBeverly Hills Cop III.
DespiteMurphy’s brilliant performance inBeverly Hills Cop, the third big-screen installment in the Axel Foley saga only managed to make $119 million worldwide, and the sequel was a bust with both critics and fans.Beverly Hills Cop IIIcurrently registers a dreadful 11% against 56 reviews on the Tomatometer, while its Rotten Tomatoes audience score comes in at only 35% with 10,000+ ratings.
Beverly Hills Cop 3
Murphy will get a chance to right the ship, though, 40 years after one ofthe best all-time comedieshit theaters. Netflix reunites Murphy’s character with fellow detectives Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton) in the upcomingBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Bronson Pinchot and Paul Reiser also reprise their roles from the previous films, and Taylour Paige joins the established cast as Foley’s daughter, Jane. Director Mark Molloy said of the casting (viaTudum):
“You’re trying to cast Axel Foley’s daughter. That’s a real challenge. I saw that same glint in Taylour’s eye, that infectious spark and energy that Axel has, but also someone who could go toe to toe with Axel, which is a hard thing.”
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Fbegins streaming July 3 on Netflix.
