‘Beverly Hills Cop 4’ Director Was Shocked When Experiencing Eddie Murphy Movie’s Helicopter Stunt

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As a lifelong fan of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, I must say that watching Axel F soar through the skies in that helicopter chase was nothing short of thrilling. The scene had all the makings of a classic action sequence: a daring heist, high-speed chases, and even a crash landing on a golf course – pure gold for any action junkie like myself.

On July 3rd, the film “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” made a big impact on Netflix. This action-comedy brought back Eddie Murphy’s character Beverly Hills Cop alongside his old friends Billy Rosewood (portrayed by Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton). In the story, he teams up with Detective Bobby Abbott, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, to solve a wide-reaching conspiracy. At one point, they even steal a helicopter in a thrilling sequence that combined real-life stunts and computer-generated imagery (CGI). However, veteran pilot Fred North mentioned that director Mark Molloy initially wasn’t too impressed with the stunt, but he changed his mind after deciding to join the ride.

In a recently released video featuring Corridor Crew (as shown below), North analyzed the helicopter sequence in the movie “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” alongside hosts Niko and Wren. The scene begins with Murphy and Gordon-Levitt seizing control of the helicopter from the BHPD’s rooftop, followed by a flight through Beverly Hills streets culminating in a crash on a golf course. North mentioned that when he initially performed the stunt, Molloy was monitoring things from the ground.

Before attempting it for real, I practiced on an open desert field instead. When I did the first one, director Mark Molloy asked, “Is that it, Fred?” Implying he wanted more. He was critical, but amazingly so; he even got down to have a closer look. In response, I suggested, “You know Mark, I believe you’d appreciate it more if you joined us, and then you’ll truly understand.” After all, it’s best experienced from within a helicopter.

Despite not holding the director title, North has accumulated over 200 credits through his extensive experience with helicopter stunts. Surprisingly, when Molloy chose to accompany him on a trial run, he soon adjusted his viewpoint, opting to heed North’s guidance and incorporate close-up shots from within the helicopter into the final sequence.

Initially, he accompanied us, and together we proceeded with our plan. Later, upon seeing the outcome, he exclaimed something rather surprising, “Wow, me!”. You see, that’s why they opted for a different take. It significantly alters the overall eeriness of the situation. From my personal vantage point, I must admit, they skillfully executed the CG transition, as it was evidently not a real crash. Consequently, we all concurred with Mark to make everything authentic in our subsequent actions.

Will There Be a Beverly Hills Cop 5?

Following its debut, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F rapidly climbed high on Netflix’s rankings and attracted a staggering 41 million views in just five days, adding another 22.2 million during the second week. Such impressive figures undeniably sparked the desire among star Eddie Murphy and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to carry on the storyline. However, at this moment, no official announcements have been made regarding continuation plans.

As Murphy previously shared with Variety this year, another Beverly Hills Cop sequel is being considered, and Bruckheimer mentioned they have a couple of potential storylines in mind. Although the project is still at the initial stages, it’s hopeful about the future of the franchise. If nothing materializes, we can find solace knowing that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F served as a redemption for Beverly Hills Cop 3, thereby concluding the series on a positive note.

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2024-11-19 00:03