Three decades after Axel’s last ride, Eddie Murphy is back behind the wheel—and he’s not alone. The July 2024 Netflix release Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F brings back the characters fans grew up with while introducing new faces, including Murphy’s own daughter in a key role. Here’s the full cast breakdown, plus what’s confirmed, what’s still unclear, and what comes next for the franchise.

4 related posts

Release Year: 2024 · Lead Actor: Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley · Key Returning Cast: Judge Reinhold, John Ashton · Newcomer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Bobby Abbott · Daughter Role: Taylour Paige as Jane Saunders

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Beverly Hills Cop 5 confirmation — Eddie Murphy has hinted but nothing is official
  • Exact role title variations across cast lists (Jane Saunders vs. Jane Foley)
  • Production budget and streaming performance data remain unreleased
3Timeline signal
  • Original film: 1984
  • Last sequel (Beverly Hills Cop III): 1994
  • Cast announcements began August 2022
  • Film released: July 3, 2024
4What’s next
  • Murphy has expressed openness to a fifth installment
  • No studio announcement confirming Beverly Hills Cop 5 development
  • Franchise future depends on streaming viewership numbers
Key Facts at a Glance
Field Detail
Movie Title Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Year 2024
Lead Eddie Murphy
Director Mark Molloy
Platform Netflix
Release Date July 3, 2024
Genre Action comedy, buddy cop

Did Eddie Murphy’s daughter play in Axel F?

Yes—and it’s a casting choice that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Taylour Paige, Eddie Murphy’s real-life daughter, plays Jane Saunders, Axel’s estranged daughter in the film (Wikipedia production page). Their scenes together carry an extra layer of authenticity, given the real-life father-daughter dynamic.

Eddie Murphy’s real-life daughter involvement

  • Taylour Paige, cast in August 2022, is Eddie Murphy’s daughter with partner Nicole Mitchell Murphy
  • This marks her first major appearance alongside her father in a feature film
  • The casting was reportedly a conscious creative decision by the filmmakers

Taylour Paige as on-screen daughter Jane Saunders

  • Jane is the catalyst for Axel’s return to Beverly Hills — her life is threatened, pulling him back into action
  • Her full name varies across sources: listed as Jane Saunders on Wikipedia and TV Guide, but Jane Foley on Fandango (Fandango official cast page)
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character Bobby Abbott is Jane’s ex-boyfriend, adding personal stakes to the detective partnership
The upshot

The real-life father-daughter casting gives Axel F an emotional core that the previous sequels lacked. It’s not just a callback — it’s a new dynamic the franchise hasn’t explored before.

What actor walked away from the lead role in Beverly Hills Cop?

Hollywood history is full of near-misses, and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise is no exception. While Eddie Murphy ultimately landed the Axel Foley role, reports have circulated over the years about other actors who were considered or pursued for key roles. The story of how Murphy got the part involves classic casting twists and studio politics of the 1980s.

Sylvester Stallone connection

  • Industry lore has long suggested that Sylvester Stallone had significant pull in Hollywood during the 1980s peak of his career
  • Various accounts describe rivalries or competitive dynamics between rising action stars of that era
  • The exact specifics of any “walk away” scenario remain disputed across sources

Eddie Murphy’s casting story

  • Eddie Murphy was cast in the early 1980s when his star was rising on Saturday Night Live
  • The original Beverly Hills Cop (1984) launched him into film leading-man status
  • Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a key architect of the franchise, continued his partnership with Murphy through the sequels and now the Netflix revival (Movie Insider production database)

The Sylvester Stallone rumors illustrate how casting battles shaped the action-comedy landscape of the 1980s, with Murphy ultimately proving the more versatile leading man for the franchise’s tone.

Is there going to be a Beverly Hills Cop 5?

Eddie Murphy has left the door open, but nothing is officially greenlit. The actor has reportedly expressed enthusiasm about continuing the franchise, though Netflix has not confirmed any development plans for a fifth installment.

Eddie Murphy’s update

  • Murphy has publicly stated he enjoys returning to the Axel Foley character
  • His involvement as both actor and producer on Axel F signals ongoing investment in the franchise
  • Streaming viewership numbers will likely determine whether a fifth film gets the go-ahead

Franchise future post-Axel F

  • The franchise began in 1984, making it a 40-year property by the time Axel F released
  • Original cast returns after 30-37 year gaps demonstrate fan demand
  • Netflix’s streaming model means traditional box office metrics don’t apply — audience retention and subscriber impact drive decisions
What to watch

With streaming performance data kept private by Netflix, fans will have to wait for any official announcement. Murphy’s public enthusiasm is the strongest signal currently available.

For Netflix to commit to a fifth installment, Axel F would need to demonstrate measurable subscriber acquisition or retention — metrics the platform guards closely.

Why did Eddie Murphy not like Beverly Hills Cop 3?

Murphy has been candid about his dissatisfaction with Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). The third installment, directed by John Landis, marked a 10-year gap from the original sequel and arrived during a transitional period in Murphy’s career and in Hollywood comedy trends.

Eddie Murphy’s critique

  • Murphy reportedly felt the script and execution didn’t live up to the franchise’s legacy
  • The third film introduced new characters and storylines that didn’t resonate with audiences or the star himself
  • His production involvement was limited compared to earlier entries

Impact on franchise

  • The mixed reception to Beverly Hills Cop III effectively stalled the franchise for three decades
  • It took until 2022 for Netflix to greenlight a revival, with significant changes in creative direction
  • The return to a more traditional buddy cop dynamic in Axel F signals lessons learned from the third film’s missteps (Parade franchise coverage)
Bottom line: Eddie Murphy’s return as Axel Foley after 30 years comes with a built-in redemption arc for the franchise. Taylour Paige’s casting as his on-screen daughter adds emotional stakes the series hasn’t touched before. For franchise fans: the returning cast delivers what they came for. For newcomers: the new cast, led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kevin Bacon, provides fresh entry points. For streaming audiences: expect an action-comedy formula updated for 2024, not a reinvention.

What did John Ashton pass away from?

John Ashton, who played Chief John Taggart in the original Beverly Hills Cop films, died in 2024 at age 76. His appearance in Axel F marked a poignant return to the franchise that defined much of his career, and it became one of his final performances.

John Ashton’s role as Chief Taggart

  • Taggart was a central figure in the Beverly Hills Police Department across the first two films
  • His character retired after Beverly Hills Cop II, making his return in Axel F a meaningful narrative choice
  • The character reunion brought together Murphy, Taggart, and Billy Rosewood for the first time since 1987

Tribute in Beverly Hills Cop context

  • Ashton’s casting in Axel F was confirmed in August 2022, announced alongside Paul Reiser after a 37-year absence from the franchise
  • His performance in the 2024 film serves as an emotional farewell to fans
  • Co-star Judge Reinhold also returned, making the reunion a full circle moment for the original ensemble (ScreenRant cast guide)
The catch

John Ashton’s passing makes Axel F an inadvertent memorial. What was intended as a franchise revival also became a tribute, adding weight to every scene with the original cast.

For viewers, this means each moment featuring the original ensemble carries an additional layer of closure — the film works as both entertainment and tribute simultaneously.

Timeline

The Beverly Hills Cop franchise spans four decades of Hollywood history, with the fourth installment arriving 30 years after the third.

Key franchise moments
Year Event
1984 Beverly Hills Cop released; Eddie Murphy becomes a film star
1987 Beverly Hills Cop II continues the franchise
1994 Beverly Hills Cop III released; Eddie Murphy reportedly dissatisfied
August 2022 Taylour Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Paul Reiser, John Ashton cast
September 2022 Judge Reinhold, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon confirmed
July 3, 2024 Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F released globally on Netflix

What’s confirmed and what’s rumor

Confirmed

  • Eddie Murphy returns as Axel Foley — 40 years after the original
  • Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot all return
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays new partner Detective Bobby Abbott
  • Taylour Paige plays Jane Saunders (Axel’s daughter)
  • Kevin Bacon plays Captain Grant
  • Released July 3, 2024 on Netflix
  • John Ashton’s role is his final performance

Unconfirmed / Rumor

  • Beverly Hills Cop 5 development — Murphy has hinted, no official announcement
  • Exact details of Sylvester Stallone’s involvement in original casting history
  • Full production budget or streaming viewership numbers
  • Whether Jane’s surname is Saunders or Foley — varies across sources

What people are saying

Eddie Murphy is finally returning to Beverly Hills! Or perhaps more accurately, Axel Foley, the character Murphy played in the hit Beverly Hills Cop franchise, is returning to Beverly Hills.

— Parade (entertainment publication)

It’s taken decades for a new Beverly Hills Cop movie to come together, but it’s finally here, thanks to the good people at Netflix.

— ScreenRant (film and television outlet)

Summary

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F delivers exactly what franchise fans asked for: Eddie Murphy back as Axel Foley, reunited with the original supporting cast, and a new generation of characters to carry the story forward. Taylour Paige’s casting as his real-life daughter adds an emotional dimension that the previous sequels never achieved, while John Ashton’s final performance provides an inadvertent but affecting tribute. Whether Netflix moves forward with a fifth installment depends on streaming numbers the platform keeps private — but Murphy has made clear he’s willing.

Related reading: Home Sweet Home Alone cast · Live Action How to Train Your Dragon cast

Additional sources

rottentomatoes.com, tvguide.com

Eddie Murphy leads the Beverly Hills Cop 4 cast in Axel F, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and others joining, as explored in this Netflix cast and release guide amid sequel excitement.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Beverly Hills Cop 4 release date?

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F was released on July 3, 2024, globally on Netflix.

Who plays Serge in Beverly Hills Cop 4?

Bronson Pinchot reprises the role of Serge, originally introduced as an eccentric art gallery worker in the first film and later revealed as an arms dealer in the third.

What is the Beverly Hills Cop 4 rating?

The MPAA rating has not been officially published, though the film features language throughout, violence, and brief drug use according to pre-release materials.

Who was in the Beverly Hills Cop 3 cast?

Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) starred Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, with Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, and Bronson Pinchot in supporting roles. The sequel introduced new characters and was directed by John Landis.

Is Beverly Hills Cop 4 the last one?

Not officially. Eddie Murphy has expressed openness to a fifth film, but Netflix has not announced any development plans. The franchise’s future remains uncertain pending streaming performance data.