Eddie Murphy recently reflected on his career choices in an interview with The Associated Press, revealing that he deeply regrets passing on three hugely successful films: “Ghostbusters,” “Rush Hour,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” The comedian, now 64, expressed a mix of humor and disappointment, stating, “Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies,” and noting that they were all “huge, giant hits.”
Murphy shared that he opted to star in “Beverly Hills Cop” instead of “Ghostbusters,” a decision that ultimately turned out to be beneficial, as “Beverly Hills Cop” became the highest-grossing film of 1984 in North America and launched a successful franchise, with a new installment, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” set to release in 2024.
He admitted that his initial dismissal of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” stemmed from finding the concept “ridiculous.” However, after witnessing its success and acclaim—winning multiple Oscars for sound editing, film editing, and visual effects—Murphy felt a sense of regret. He previously stated on “The Tonight Show” that he could have taken on Bob Hoskins’ role as Eddie Valiant, but at the time, the blending of animation with live-action seemed bizarre to him. “Now, every time I see it, I feel like an idiot,” he said, highlighting his change of perspective.
While Murphy did not elaborate much on “Rush Hour,” he had previously mentioned to Complex that he turned down the role originally played by Chris Tucker in the beloved 1998 action comedy. Instead, he starred in the poorly received film “Holy Man,” which he humorously described as a bad decision. The offer was enticing, with the potential of teaming up with Jackie Chan in a summer action comedy, but he chose the less favorable path of working on what he called “a horrendous film.”
Murphy’s candid reflections not only shed light on his career decisions but also serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Hollywood and the trade-offs actors often make.