Kevin Bacon Says Working with Eddie Murphy Was a 'Bucket List Thing': 'One of Our Greatest Movie Stars' (Exclusive)

Kevin Bacon is considering teaming up with another ’80s legend.

While recently speaking with PEOPLE about his two upcoming releases, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and MaXXXineBacon, 65, spoke highly of his co-star Eddie Murphy.

Working with him is “a bucket list. He’s one of our biggest movie stars ever,” Bacon says of Murphy, 63, who reprises his role in the film Beverly Hills Cop series for the first time after 30 years with a new sequel.

While Murphy and Bacon experienced their rise to fame around the same time – the original Beverly Hills Cop published in the same year as Bacon’s Free — Bacon says he doesn’t necessarily remember spending time with Murphy back then.

“Our paths never crossed in the ’80s. We never worked together. I don’t remember ever meeting him — I’m sure we probably did, but I don’t remember,” says Bacon, before noting that Murphy’s legendary comedy skills were displayed seemingly without actually making any effort during the filming of the new film.

Kevin Bacon hasn’t been to the Oscars in 40 years: ‘I was the It Boy of the year’ when I was

Kevin Bacon in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Netflix

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Eddie is someone who is a very relaxed, laid-back and present actor. He comes in and is known to improvise a lot,” says Bacon.

“But when he’s improvising, there’s an improvisation where you can really feel the improviser trying to laugh. I’ve never seen him try to be funny on or off camera, and he’s still funny. To the point that sometimes he was about to lose himself because he would look at me.”

Eddie Murphy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt team up in High-Energy Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Trailer

Kevin Bacon June 14, 2024

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

“He really cares about the person he’s working with,” Bacon says of Murphy. “I noticed that he would pick up on some little thing that the other person was doing or saying or whatever, and kind of give it back to them. It was great. I loved working with him.”

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is on Netflix on July 3rd. Bacon’s second new film, MaXXXineit’s in theaters July 5.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education