Eddie Murphy’s Rolling Stone interview (in advance of Tower Heist) is currently only available in the print edition of the magazine, which I don’t have yet, so we’ve had to be content with the various tidbits that have been leaking out (look, no one ever said we were professional). There’s a question mark in this headline because it’s hard to know how serious Eddie was when he said this. I would say he’s joking, but Eddie Murphy hasn’t done that in a few years.
Asked about Tower Heist, which was conceived as a “black Ocean’s 11” starring Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, and Chris Rock, Murphy said:
“I still want to do something like that”, Murphy says, adding that he had Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Tracey Morgan and Martin Lawrence all lined up for that first incarnation of “Tower Heist”. “I have this idea called ‘Jamal and Tyrell and Omar and Brick and Michael’s Wack-Ass Weekend’ about this group of guys who get abducted by aliens on the way to the fights. I’m writing that now.” [Moviehole]
Again, I’m inclined to think he’s joking, but considering he did a movie where he played the tiny captain of an alien vessel shaped like his own body not too long ago, who knows? I hope this isn’t his idea of tackling more “edgy” material (though I suppose it could be considered “dark”). Remember in Not Another Teen Movie where the black guy says that, as the token black guy in the movie, his job is just to stand around saying stuff like “DAMN!” and “OH THAT IS WACK!”? This sounds like an entire movie of just that. That said, I’ll probably see it if Tracy Morgan’s still in it. I could watch that man shout confusedly for hours.
See also: Homeboys in Outer Space
Jesus, how did I not remember this show? Another clip here.