Working beside or interacting with our favorite on-screen idols is not only on the bucket list of the general public but also of certain Hollywood celebrities. The most recent to admit this is Kevin Bacon, who described working with Eddie Murphy on a movie was a dream come true.
Bacon, who has already worked with Hollywood heavyweights such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt on films such as A Few Good Men and Sleepers, will now appear opposite Murphy in the movie Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which is based on the original Beverly Hills Cop, released over three decades ago.
Kevin Bacon explains why working with Eddie Murphy was a lifelong dream
Eddie Murphy might easily be considered one of the greatest comedians of all time. With his comedic timing and acting abilities, the 63-year-old is both bankable and popular. This popularity is not confined to the general crowd but also includes Tinsel Town celebs, the most recent of which being his Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F co-star Kevin Bacon.
In a recent interview with People, when discussing his two upcoming projects, Beverly Hills Cops: Axel F and MaXXXine, Bacon spoke fondly about Eddie Murphy and added:
It’s a bucket list thing to work with him. He is one of our greatest movie stars ever.
Murphy is reprising his role as the loudmouth police officer Alex Foley in the movie, which comes decades after the franchise’s original movie was released in 1994. Further, both Bacon and Murphy rose to prominence practically simultaneously, with Murphy’s original Beverly Hill Cop being released around the same time as Bacon’s Footloose.
However, the actor doesn’t remember spending any time with Murphy in the 1980s, adding:
Our paths never crossed in the ’80s. We never worked together. I don’t remember even having met him – I’m sure we probably did, but I don’t remember.
The Footloose actor also stated that he had a great time on set with Murphy and that his famed comedic abilities were on full display without even trying. Further, Murphy’s personality is more easygoing, and he mentioned:
Eddie is somebody who is a very relaxed and loose and present actor. He comes in and famously does a lot of improvising.
Bacon said that he enjoyed working with him on the Netflix movie because he is highly observant of his co-stars, catching up on the smallest details people do or say and reflecting them back.
Eddie Murphy is always seen with a calm and cool demeanor, always ready for some humorous banter. However, a joke made by David Spade almost 30 years ago did not sit well with the actor.
The feud between Eddie Murphy and David Spade
David Spade and Eddie Murphy had a strained relationship in the past that began in 1995, after Spade made a joke on Saturday Night Live. Murphy, a former SNL alumnus, took offense to Spade’s remark about his career (particularly his film Vampire in Brooklyn), which had suffered a slight dip in the 1990s after reaching phenomenal heights in the 1980s.
During the Hollywood Minute-December sketch, an image of Murphy appeared on the screen, with Spade commenting:
Look children, it’s a falling star, make a wish.
Murphy harbored animosity and anger toward his fellow comedian for several years following this joke.
While their relationship is on good terms now, Murphy recently discussed the joking incident with the New York Times and expressed his feelings about the simple yet heart-piercing joke. He added:
When David Spade said that s**t about my career on SNL, it was like: ‘Yo, it’s in-house. I’m one of the family, and you’re f**king with me like that? It hurt my feelings.
Spade was on the show for six years, from 1990 to 1996, Murphy on the other hand appeared a decade earlier, from 1980 to 1984.
You can stream Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F on Netflix July 3. While MaXXXine will have a theatrical release on July 5.
