Eddie Murphy reveals the one detail he was reluctant to see used in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Picking up 30 years after his previous outing as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop III, Murphy's latest movie sees him reprising the wisecracking detective that first helped turn him into a movie star. Known for his trademark Detroit Lions jacket, blue jeans, and white sneakers, Axel Foley can be seen sporting the same look throughout each of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise’s previous entries.

Speaking with The Ringer, however, the comedian admitted that he was initially reluctant for Foley to be wearing the same clothing in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Questioning why his character would be maintaining the same look 30 years later, the production team later talked him into it by comparing Axel’s jacket to Indiana Jones’ iconic fedora. Check out his comments below:

It was surreal when you put it on again and look at it again. They kind of had to talk me into wearing the same clothes. Because I was like, ‘Why would he have on the same clothes from 30 years ago? I have the same sneakers?’ And they were like, ‘Can you get your hair the same way? Yeah, you grow a little Afro like you had back then.’ I was like, ‘What the f*ck is wrong with y’all? I’m not doing anything!’

They kind of talked me into it. They were like, ‘Hey, listen, this character’s look is kind of part of his whole thing. Axel Foley has that jacket. It’s like Indiana Jones’s hat.’ And when they put it like that, it was like, ‘OK. All right.’ And it worked out.

Murphy Eventually Made The Right Costume Choice

Axel Foley’s Look Shows Nothing Else Has Changed For The Detroit Detective

From its use of the Pointer Sister’s Neutron Dance, through to a final shot that pays direct homage to the original 1984 movie, there is little question that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a movie that plays heavily on nostalgia. Not only does Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F bring back its original stars, including John Ashton and Paul Reiser who were both notably absent from 1994’s Beverly Hills Cop III, but it also includes countless callbacks and sneaky references to the beloved franchise’s history.

With this kind of sentimental approach in mind, having Axel Foley appear in anything other than his trademark blue jeans and Detroit Lions jacket would have resulted in considerable backlash. Yet, not only does Axel’s look serve to further the latest sequel’s nostalgic appeal, but it also provides audiences with a clue about his character’s complete lack of development since they last saw him. Where many of his friends have gone on to receive promotions and lead their respective police departments, Murphy’s character is working the same job and using the same tricks 30 years on.

Moreover, Foley’s outright stubbornness and reluctance to embrace change also serves as the major impediment to his relationship with his estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige). More than just a simple callback to his previous movies, Axel’s tenacity and single-minded approach to his police work is signified by his reluctance to change a look he first donned in decades past. Most viewers would agree that Murphy eventually made the right decision by agreeing to return to Axel’s classic look in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.