Joseph Gordon-Levitt remembers his brother through film
Fourteen years after the unfortunate death of his brother Dan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has found a wonderful way to pay tribute to him — by starring in Eddie Murphy’s upcoming film. Beverly Hills Police: Axel F.
The late Daniel Gordon-Levitt was a big fan of Murphy’s work. snl and movies like this coming to America And the first Beverly Hills Copand introduced young Joseph to the work of the flamboyant comedian.
“I had a really sweet conversation with Eddie about how Dan showed me a lot of his work, and it was great to connect with him on that level. Eddie has a nice big family as well, and we’re both dads… so he connected with me.”
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott and Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ | Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon
In the new Netflix film, Eddie Murphy reprises his iconic role of Axel Foley for the fourth time, returning to Beverly Hills when his daughter’s life is in danger, and teams up with a new partner in Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to solve the mystery.
Another thing the two on-screen cops shared off-camera was their shared love for music; Murphy has released three studio albums and several hit singles (the duo still jams out to music). party all the time?) While Gordon-Levitt is also known for his singing and live performances, even recently playing a guitarist in last year’s Charming Romance Flora and Son.
“We talked about music more than anything else on set!” 500 days of Summer The actor further added, “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to jam or play music together… which would have been nice. One day, I want to do a full-fledged musical movie, maybe Eddie and I can work together in that.”
Joseph Gordon Levitt attends the world premiere of the film at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, USA | Photo credit: Aude Guerrucci
Gordon-Levitt playing the sidekick of a legendary movie character in Excel F is reminiscent of the last time he worked with another iconic fictional hero, in Christopher Nolan’s 2012 superhero film. the dark Knight Rises. As John Blake/Robin, the actor was introduced as a young police officer who helps Batman (Christian Bale) protect Gotham from Bane and Talia al Ghul.
“Ah… of course, and they’re both cops! Now I’ve got my Beverly Hills PD badge along with my Gotham City PD badge, which I still keep. It’s definitely a funny similarity, even though they’re two very different movies and characters.”
It has been 11 years since his directorial debut Don Jon; Is he planning to direct a film again soon? “I love making movies and I hope to direct a feature film soon. But just a few years ago, I made a television series titled Mr. Corman “I’ve got a show on Apple TV+ that I’m very proud of; it’s a beautiful little show where I get to do everything I wanted to do artistically, with my own weird tastes,” he smiles.
Eddie Murphy back to basics
To the great Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F The aim was to find a way back to the roots that made this blockbuster franchise so beloved.
“The third film (1994) wasn’t as strong as the first two. But we weren’t looking at other films in the genre and thinking things had changed. It wasn’t about sticking to the template, but about returning to it,” he explains.
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ | Photo credit: Melinda Sue Gordon
It’s been 40 years since the first film and 30 since the third, but Murphy is confident the friendship is a must in the cop-action-comedy genre Beverly Hills Cop Even such a successful initiative can create magic.
“If you do it correctly, Beverly Hills Cop The movies work for any generation! There have been a lot of action movies in the last 10-15 years with lots of visual effects and superheroes. But Beverly Hills Cop is a cape-less hero; he’s not Superman, he’s a ‘common man’ who rises to the occasion and doesn’t follow the rules. People connect with him, and he’s the kind of guy you’d want to have a beer with,” he says, smiling.
Another reason the early films were so successful was that Murphy was still a relatively unknown figure waiting for his big break before Dr. Dolittle, The Nutty Professor, Daddy Day Care and other comic roles that made him a global star.
Bronson Pinchot, Judge Reinhold, Eddie Murphy, John Ashton and Paul Reiser attend the world premiere of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. Photo Credit: Odd Guerrucci
“Of course I’m not the same person anymore! When I did the first movie, I was 21 and a legal adult. I wasn’t married, I didn’t have kids and I hadn’t travelled the world. A lot has happened since then; I’m in my 60s now and I have 10 kids, I’m a grandfather. Whenever I see pictures or any scenes from the first movie, I literally remember high school… I was a kid!”
But one thing that has remained the same is the friendship between Murphy and his former castmates. Beverly Hill Cop The co-stars – Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot – all return for this fourth film.
“We have grown old (laughing)… But the good thing is that all this is reflected in the film and the script as well. We are growing up, forming relationships according to our age, how we have changed now and are no longer the same as before..”
Kevin Bacon attends the world premiere of ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ | Photo credit: Aude Guerrucci
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, and then some
Hollywood veteran villain Kevin Bacon is also a part of the film in the role of Captain Cade Grant, a police captain in the Beverly Hills Police Department. After 46 years in the industry and acclaimed performances in films such as Footloose, Mystic River And Taking a chanceBacon is now entering Murphy’s franchise for the first time.
Eddie Murphy said he wanted a “main guy” to play the antagonist when casting for this project so that the villain’s presence could really be strong; what is your opinion about that?
That’s a really nice thing to say. If you’re going to have a villain, you better make him interesting, right? When I was signed and brought into the conversation on how to make things interesting, there was definitely a level of collaboration with the director that allowed me to do something fun. I really think of myself more as a character actor than a leading man, but I go back and forth between the two. It’s more about trying something new and fresh; not whether the character is a good guy or a bad guy.
Two of my favourite villainous roles you’ve played are by the same name; Sebastian Shaw. X-Men: First Class and Dr. Sebastian Kane hollow ManDo you have a favorite dark character you’ve played?
Wow, that’s right, I didn’t know they were both Sebastian! Hmmm… I like them both, but the one that comes to mind is my role Wild River With Meryl Streep; it was a great rivalry between our characters. I have very fond memories of playing that role and working with such an iconic star as Meryl.
Given the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon phenomenon (the notion that anyone in Hollywood can be linked to Bacon in six steps through his film roles, as his career has been so prolific), how come you and Eddie Murphy haven’t worked together until now?
(laughing) I’m sure our paths may have crossed over the years, but I wonder if we’d ever discussed it. I had never worked with them before, so they were on my wish list… and the experience certainly did not disappoint!
‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ starring Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, John Ashton as Chief John Taggart and Kevin Bacon as Captain Grant
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premieres on Netflix on July 3
