Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy is opening up about his groundbreaking career and mending fences with former adversary John Landis in a revealing new documentary that hit Netflix this month.
From Adversaries to Allies
In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter promoting "Being Eddie," which premiered on Netflix November 12, Murphy addressed his once-turbulent relationship with director John Landis. The two collaborated on some of Murphy's most iconic films, including "Trading Places" and "Coming to America," but their working relationship was reportedly fraught with tension at times.
"That heat that I had with John Landis 35, 40 years ago, that's so long ago," the actor and comedian explained, emphasizing that their conflicts are firmly in the past. "I love John, and he directed two of the best movies of my career."
Murphy pointed to their later collaboration on "Beverly Hills Cop III" as evidence of their reconciliation, noting humorously: "The movie sucked, but we were buddies after."
The Source of the Tension
The rift between Landis and Murphy first became public knowledge following their work on "Coming to America" in 1988. At a press conference for the film, Murphy made a particularly cutting remark about the director, reportedly stating: "Vic Morrow has a better chance of working with Landis than I do."
This reference carried significant weight in Hollywood circles. Morrow was one of three actors killed in a tragic helicopter crash during the filming of "Twilight Zone: The Movie," which Landis partially directed in 1982. Though Landis was acquitted of manslaughter charges related to the incident, his reputation suffered considerable damage.
In a 1989 Rolling Stone interview, Murphy revealed that he had actually helped revive Landis's career by asking him to direct "Coming to America" when the filmmaker's "career was hanging by a thread" following the "Twilight Zone" trial.
"I figured the guy was nice to me when I did 'Trading Places,' so I'd give him a shot," Murphy said at the time. "To have a guy who was as messed up as he was get a job with me gave him some renewed credibility."
A New Chapter
Landis, whose last directorial effort was the 2010 dark comedy "Burke & Hare," appears in "Being Eddie" alongside numerous other A-list celebrities including Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Murphy explained to Netflix's Tudum why he decided to participate in the documentary, noting that audiences typically only see his comedic persona during promotional appearances. "But in the documentary, this is me," he emphasized. "This is my house, this is my family, and this is how I did it. For the first time, they're getting a little peek at me."
The documentary promises to provide unprecedented access to the private life and career reflections of one of comedy's most enduring figures, while showcasing how time has healed old Hollywood wounds.
