Eddie Murphy will return to the character, and movie franchise, that launched his career.
The 47-year-old is set to star as crime fighting police detective Axel Foley in the fourth installment of the hit "Beverly Hills Cop," Reuters reported.
Murphy reportedly approached Paramount Pictures about the idea and filming is expected to start next year with a summer 2010 release date, according to Reuters.
Brett Ratner, whose work includes the "Rush Hour" movies, is in negotiations to direct the film, while Lorenzo di Bonaventura of "Transformers" was tapped to produce the flick, Reuters reported.
The first "Beverly Hills Cop" debuted in 1984 and was followed up with two sequels — the last of which premiered in 1994.
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