The 7 Most Outrageous Roles Eddie Murphy Declined

      Eddie Murphy is regarded as one of the most hilarious and commercially successful actors ever.

      However, for every role he accepted, he also rejected numerous others.

      Here are seven of the most unusual roles Eddie Murphy turned down.

      **Ghostbusters**

      Eddie Murphy was offered a part in the original 1984 Ghostbusters but declined.

      While on the set of Trading Places, co-writer and star Dan Aykroyd shared details about the movie with him, but Murphy thought the ghost story “sounds like a crock ... to me,” he told Extra. He was in line for the role of Winston Zeddemore, which ultimately went to Ernie Hudson, although when Murphy was being considered, the role was expected to have more screen time than it ultimately did, according to Vulture.

      In a 2019 interview with Jimmy Fallon, Murphy explained why he wasn't part of the beloved franchise.

      “Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wanted you to be one of the original Ghostbusters, but you turned it down,” Fallon said.

      “Because I did Beverly Hills Cop,” Murphy responded. “It wasn't like I turned it down; I just wasn't available because I was doing this other movie.”

      **Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home**

      Eddie Murphy is a known fan of Star Trek and wanted to participate in one of the films.

      Leonard Nimoy confirmed in a 2008 interview that he had discussed Murphy’s potential role in the 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

      “I was contacted by Jeff Katzenberg, head of the studio, during the preparations for Star Trek IV. I remember his exact words: ‘I have either the best idea in the world or the worst idea in the world; Eddie Murphy said he would kill to be in a Star Trek movie.’ I told him, ‘I think you're right; it’s either the best or worst idea in the world,” Nimoy recounted to TrekMovie.com.

      He added: “I had several meetings with Mr. Murphy, and what I suggested to him was: ‘We’re very flattered you want to be in a Star Trek movie, we admire you, you admire us, neither of us wants to harm each other, so let’s work on a script. If we can develop something that works, we will proceed; if not, we will thank each other and move on.’ That is essentially how it unfolded.”

      **More on Star Trek IV**

      Murphy chose to do The Golden Child in 1986 instead of Star Trek IV.

      “I think he later mentioned that he wished he had taken the Star Trek movie,” Nimoy furthered.

      During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Murphy revealed why he ultimately passed on the project.

      “You know which one it was; it was the one where they go to San Francisco and get the whales… I was supposed to be the one they encountered in San Francisco, and I thought, ‘No, I want to go beam up and be on the ship,’ so I didn't do it,” he explained, adding, “They had me talking jive to Spock in San Francisco.”

      **Who Framed Roger Rabbit**

      Murphy also discussed with Fallon the one film he turned down that became a huge success.

      “The only movie I ever declined that turned out to be a massive hit was Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” Murphy shared. “I was supposed to be the Bob Hoskins character. I thought, ‘What? Animation and live-action? That sounds like nonsense to me.’”

      However, he now reflects on that decision with regret.

      “Now every time I see it, I feel like an idiot,” he admitted.

      **Malcolm X**

      According to The New York Times, Eddie Murphy once had a role in a version of Malcolm X but later withdrew.

      He was among various directors, screenwriters, and actors linked to different iterations of the film over the two decades it was trying to get made in Hollywood. The Times notes that Richard Pryor was also part of the project, with several screenwriters cycling through, including David Mamet, Calder Willingham, David Bradley, and Charles Fuller. Directors attempting to helm the project included Sidney Lumet and Norman Jewison.

      Ultimately, Malcolm X was directed by Spike Lee and featured Denzel Washington in 1992.

      **Dirty Rotten Scoundrels**

      Eddie Murphy was briefly attached to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, conceived as a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story featuring Marlon Brando and David Niven. The plot centers on two con artists competing to trick women out of their money.

      According to screenwriter Dale Launer, Murphy had seen Bedtime Story and was eager to remake it. Director Michael Ritchie, who had worked with Murphy on The Golden Child, was also interested. Launer brought the script to Paramount, but to their surprise, the studio declined.

      Murphy exited the project, which continued in development for many months. The