9 Times Actors Famously Expressed Their Dissatisfaction

When Beverly Hills Cop was first released, Eddie Murphy had only one hit, along with the fact that he'd pretty much single-handedly rescued SNL after Lorne Michael's departure. The film, directed by Martin Brest, solidified what was already in the air for Murphy.

An action script retooled specifically for him, Axel Foley was a terrific 80s character. Not only was he waving his nose at authority, he didn't have time for any Los Angeles stereotypes or Reaganite Americans. And he was an intensely positive African American character at a time when action cinema was Stallone and Schwarzenegger-owned.

The sequel, directed by Tony Scott, at least stays true to the spirit of the first, if coming across a bit like a retread.

The third, on the other hand, is the reason Murphy has been so reluctant to return to the role, even with his newfound success.

"The third film was so atrocious," Murphy told James Lipton on Inside the Actor's Studio in 2006, "the character was kind of banished from Hollywood for a while."

If there was any banishment, it was self-imposed, as studios have been chomping at the bit to continue the franchise even without him, proposing various TV shows, sequels and spinoffs over the years.

If there is to be another, based on what we know so far, expect the dead friend that Foley is investigating to be Judge Reinhold's Billy Rosewood.