Judge Reinhold reflects on early 'Beverly Hills Cop' days before Eddie Murphy at ‘Axel F’ premiere

Ahead of the highly-anticipated release of Netflix's 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F', Judge Reinhold reminisces about his journey with the franchise, shedding light on its early days before Eddie Murphy joined.

Reinhold, known for his role as Detective Billy Rosewood, shared insights into the film's evolution during its inception, originally intended as an action vehicle for Sylvester Stallone under producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

"We weren’t a comedy when we started, it was an action movie for Sylvester Stallone," Reinhold revealed to Deadline during the world premiere event in Beverly Hills, CA.

Reflecting on the abrupt change when Stallone exited to pursue 'Cobra', Reinhold remarked, "I was in a movie with no star, then Eddie came on."

Transitioning from a serious action flick to a comedy required adjustments, especially for Reinhold and his co-star John Ashton, who played Detective John Taggart.

"Eddie was fine flying by the seat of his pants, that’s not problem for him, but it was nerve-wracking for us," Reinhold recalled, highlighting the shift in tone and the challenge of adapting to Murphy's spontaneous style.

To enhance the comedic elements, screenwriter Sam Simon was brought in, later renowned for his work on 'The Simpsons'.

Director Martin Brest encouraged improvisation, particularly in scenes featuring Reinhold and Ashton, providing them with creative freedom during filming.

"All the scenes of John and I in the unmarked car on stakeout, Marty Brest the original director just gave us free reign," Reinhold shared.

Despite the initial hurdles, the film eventually found its footing and became a cult classic. 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' is set to premiere on Netflix on July 3, marking a nostalgic return for fans of the franchise.