Judge Reinhold, known for his role alongside Eddie Murphy in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, has opened up about why his career may have taken a downturn. Reinhold claims that a figurative “executive murder plot” hindered his attempt at a leading role in the film “Vice Versa.”
The Downfall of ‘Vice Versa’
In a recent profile published by Vanity Fair on June 13, Reinhold, 67, discussed the factors that led to the 1988 “body-swap” film “Vice Versa” underperforming at the box office. He pointed to the release of similar movies around the same time and the actions of former Columbia Pictures CEO David Puttnam as key reasons for the film’s failure.
“It was basically an executive murder plot. David Puttnam, who produced ‘Chariots of Fire,’ became the head of Columbia Pictures, and we all loved him because he was a creative and he had done indies,” Reinhold explained. “The downside with David was he wanted to bring the price of lead actors down, but make the backend profits real.”
The Impact of Executive Decisions
Puttnam served as CEO from June 1986 to September 1987. Reinhold believed in Puttnam’s vision, but Puttnam’s tenure was too short to see the plan through. “Vice Versa” follows a divorced executive and his 11-year-old son who switch bodies after encountering a mystical Tibetan skull.
Competition from Similar Films
“Vice Versa” faced tough competition from other age-change movies released around the same time, such as “Like Father Like Son” in 1987, and “Big” and “18 Again!” in 1988. “What happened was Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron’s ‘Like Father Like Son.’ Tri-Star Pictures threw that movie into production while we were already shooting,” Reinhold noted. “And Coca-Cola owned both companies. When I started the film, I knew that that was a risk to be so closely identified with the other ones. I know that it was a premise that had been done before. I didn’t know about the Dudley Moore movie.”
Judge Reinhold’s Career Highlights
Despite this setback, Reinhold continued to have a successful career. He is well-known for his roles in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “The Santa Clause” series. He also made guest appearances on popular TV shows like “Ellen,” “Monk,” and “Arrested Development,” as well as starring in numerous television films.
Return to ‘Beverly Hills Cop’
Reinhold has appeared in every installment of the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise, including a 2013 TV movie. Fans can look forward to his return as Billy Rosewood in Netflix’s upcoming “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley” film, streaming July 3. The original “Beverly Hills Cop” film, released in 1984, was a massive success that launched Eddie Murphy into superstardom and spawned two sequels. The series follows Murphy’s character, a street-smart cop from Detroit who travels to California to investigate crime and corruption.
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Reunion and New Faces
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley” will reunite Murphy and Reinhold with franchise co-stars John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New additions to the cast include Kevin Bacon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Taylour Paige, promising an exciting mix of familiar faces and fresh talent.
As Reinhold reflects on his career and the challenges he faced, fans eagerly await his next performance in the beloved “Beverly Hills Cop” series, ready to see him back in action alongside Eddie Murphy and the rest of the iconic cast.