Eddie Murphy to return in Beverly Hills Cop 4

Eddie Murphy is reported to return to the big screen as Axel Foley in a sequel to Beverly Hills Cop.

The sequel was initially billed for television, but the success of a TV pilot in the US made Paramount Pictures reconsider the action comedy for the silver screen instead.

Murphy has made fewer on-screen appearances in the last ten years since being cast as the voice of Donkey in Shrek.

But the Nutty Professor actor is top of the list to reprise his role as Axel Foley, according to Hollywood insider website Deadline.

Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec have been hired to write the script for the film. The duo have previously worked on Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remake.

The first Beverly Hills Cop film came out in 1984, directed by Martin Brest.

The second was made by Tony Scott in 1987, and the last one was directed by John Landis in 1994, when Murphy was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

The series was a huge success, grossing a total of nearly £500m.

The first film held the box office record for R-rated comedies until it was beaten by The Hangover in 2009.