Eddie Murphy on the set of "Meet Dave" (photo: bawdygeorge.blogspot.com)

Those still undergoing therapy for having been exposed to "Beverly Hills Cop 3" need read no further into the charcoal-black depths of the following news item.  Yes, they're making another "Beverly Hills Cop".  Yes, Eddie Murphy is involved.  Yes, Judge Reinhold probably had nothing better to do.  Those rumors about Brett Ratner directing? True.  Chris Rock wanted for an appearance?  Also true, maybe.  Read on for more details, my gentle Examiner readers...

Many of you youngsters probably don't remember this, but there was a time when Eddie Murphy did funny things.  He did these things for money, generally on a stage, with a microphone, and he became phenomenally wealthy as a result.  But sometimes, when a comedian loves his money very much, a terrible thing occurs: he stops being funny, because all that matters any more is bathing in his money, Scrooge McDuck-style. 

And that's how "Pluto Nash" was born.  The end.

There are some of us that know that Eddie Murphy used to be funny, and many of us kinda miss those days.  Remember how funny that dude was in "Trading Places", "Raw", and the first "Beverly Hills Cop"?  Well, so does X-treme Director Brett Ratner: he's been plugging along on a new "Beverly Hills Cop" film for some time now, and details on the production are starting to leak out. 

To begin with, the film's definitely gonna get made, but it's been put on-hold for about a year while Ratner undergoes shock therapy for "exquisite narcissism".  Wait, no, it's so he can make another lame-sounding movie that sounds like a Christmas present/promotional tool for another famous person he wants to be friends with.  According to JoBlo.com:

An inside source tells us the film is currently on hold for at least a year while Ratner & Murphy get another project off the ground (a comedy apparently set at the Trump Towers).

For more on that particular project, we sauntered over to SlashFilm (really, we sauntered for you) and came up with this information:

...But the film Ratner claims is the “closest to getting made” is Trump Heist. The action crime comedy tells the story of a bunch of employees of the Trump Tower who conspire to rip off the building’s residents. Eddie Murphy is signed to play the leader of the crew of con artists and Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Chris Tucker are reportedly in consideration to join the cast. Ratner just hired Ocean’s Eleven scribe Ted Griffin to re-write the script.

That's gonna be a keeper.  JoBlo's got some other interesting tibits of information on the next "Beverly Hills Cop" movie, though, and that's what we're here to discuss.  Take it away, JoBlo.com:

Producers are still hunting for a script, but bringing Taggart & Rosewood back is a definite. Also mentions that Rat & Murph want Chris Rock involved. Make of that what you will.

Who wants to place bets right now that Chris Rock doesn't go within 300 miles of wherever they're shooting "Beverly Hills Cop 4"?  Would it change your bet if I reminded you that he had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it part as a valet in the first sequel?  Think he knows better by now?  Probably. But I digress.  Carry on, JoBlo.com:

According to the folks of Moviehole, Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura wants the impending 4th film to be "good"...and aims to have Rosewood and Taggart (ed. note-- those were the supporting cop characters, in case you're rusty on your "BHC" knowledge) back together to achieve it. The studio is apparently courting actor John Ashton to come back...

John Ashton, of course, played Taggart in the first two films.  Was he in the 3rd?  I've blotted that one out of my memory, so if you know, feel free to drop the Comedy Examiner a line and let us know.  What else do we know about this new "Beverly Hills Cop" flick? Over at Moviehole, they're running an article that contains this long-winded explanation from the writer on the film about how "BHC4" (as they'll surely christen it) came to be:

Writer Derek Haas told Moviehole recently that ''Cop 4'' started out as something completely original - but was retooled for Axel Foley. ‘’Michael [Brandt] and I wrote a spec script called Dying Day, a dark action movie about two FBI field agents in LA who discover their whole office is crooked. Paramount bought it and asked us to convert it into the next Axel Foley movie... which sounded like a cool challenge...Like with the first Beverly Hills Cop, we're writing a straight up action movie that works as a police thriller, then Eddie Murphy is going to come in later and point out where he thinks he can riff. We haven't gotten to that point yet.

That interview's from a little while back, as from what we've heard Murphy is ready to go.  He recently turned down the lead role in a Richard Pryor biopic, and after the absurd family comedy he's making next, this looks like it should be his next project.  As always, stay tuned to the Comedy Examiner for more on this debacle as it develops.  Follow us on Twitter here or hit the "Subscribe" button up top to get direct links to all the Comedy Examiner's articles as soon as they're published, delivered straight to your email free of charge and covered in pixie dust! 

Okay, there won't be any pixie dust, but they will be free.  That's a bargain, my precious snowflakes. 

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