Discover where you can stream Eddie Murphy’s top films as he shares the three major movies he regrets declining.
The American comedian-turned-actor made his big Hollywood debut in 1982, starring as the witty convict Reggie Hammond in 48 Hours.
Murphy has since played some of the most memorable roles in the movie industry, including Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop and the beloved Donkey in the Shrek series.
Surprisingly, even a star of Murphy’s caliber has some career regrets.
Despite his tremendous success, Murphy has confessed that there are three significant roles he wishes he had accepted.
In a conversation with the Associated Press, the 64-year-old actor disclosed the specific films he turned down: 1984’s Ghostbusters, 1988’s Rush Hour, and the 1988 fantasy comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
“Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies,” Murphy remarked, adding: “They were huge, giant hits.”
Murphy elaborated that he had to decide between starring in Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop, noting that “it worked out cool.”
The character of Winston Zeddemore, the fourth member of the Ghostbusters team, was reportedly conceived with Murphy in mind, according to writer Dan Akroyd.
However, director Ivan Reitman disagrees with that claim. Ernie Hudson, known for his role in Boston Blue, was ultimately cast in the part.