Eddie Murphy’s Nixed ‘Star Trek IV’ Role Gets Discussed By The Film’s Writer

[TMC]

http://uproxx.com/movies/eddie-murph...-trek-iv-role/

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is revered among franchise die-hards (Trekkies/Trekkers/Trekkos, etc.) for its fascinating blend of humor, heart and marine-based weirdness. It’s also a motion picture that comes equipped with one of the more fascinating cinematic “what if?” scenarios in Eddie Murphy‘s decision to decline appearing in the movie. The subject has been addressed before, but Star Trek IV co-writer Steve Meerson has been kind enough to shed new light on Eddie’s would-be place in the franchise.

Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter, Meerson revealed that he and Peter Krikes wrote “seven and ten outlines” for the film with only the final outline scoring approval. Star Trek IV would ultimately get a rework from Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer and producer Harve Bennett. Meerson and Kirkes penned a role for Murphy, but it never ended up coming to fruition.

“It was always the same story that approved, but the original draft included a part for Eddie Murphy,” he explained. “Eddie was on the lot at Paramount at the time and arguably was the biggest star in the word. They had told us he was a huge Star Trek fan.”

The joy that was originally marinated in crafting their Star Trek IV work would ultimately dwindle as time passed.

“At the beginning of the process, it was actually a lot of fun. As the process progressed, it became less fun, because it became more political. And I don’t say that with any bitterness. It’s just the way things work in all businesses,” he offered. “We began to feel like at a certain point that this was going to be taken away from us, which in fact, it was.”

Murphy would end up starring in The Golden Child instead and his role was later revamped/replaced with Catherine Hicks’ Dr. Gillian Taylor. The late Leonard Nimoy commented on Murphy’s discussed Star Trek IV involvement in a 2009 interview.

“I was called by Jeff Katzenberg, who was head of the studio, when I was prepping Star Trek IV. I remember his words very specifically. He said ‘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,'” recalled the film’s star/director. “And I said, “I think you are right it is either the best or worst idea in the world.” [laughs] I had several meetings with Mr. Murphy and what I said to him: “we are very flattered you want to be in a Star Trek movie, we admire you, you admire us, neither of us want to do any harm to each other, so we will work on a script. So if we could develop a script that would work we would do it, and if not we will say thank you to each other and let it go.” And that is pretty much how it went.”

[king of comedy]

I would have loved to have seen Eddie in Star Trek and it would have been a differant movie worth seeing.

[Babalu]

I love Star Trek and at that time I also loved Eddie Murphy but that would have been an absolute disaster. See Richard Prior in Superman III.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Babalu

I love Star Trek and at that time I also loved Eddie Murphy but that would have been an absolute disaster. See Richard Prior in Superman III.

The problem with Superman III was not that Richard Pryor was in it, but rather that it was really a Richard Pryor comedy with guest appearances by Superman.

An executive at Warner Bros saw Pryor on The Tonight Show, where Pryor raved about seeing a Superman movie, how much he loved it and would love to appear in one.

The executive had an "ah-ha" moment in his head and probably heard "ch-ching!" in his head also and got the wheels in motion to have Pryor star in Superman III.

Had the movie been written differently, I think Pryor could have played a real villain, as he had showed dramatic acting chops in Some Kind Of Hero, but the studio played on his image as a comic goofball and the movie suffered as a result.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The problem with Superman III was not that Richard Pryor was in it, but rather that it was really a Richard Pryor comedy with guest appearances by Superman.

An executive at Warner Bros saw Pryor on The Tonight Show, where Pryor raved about seeing a Superman movie, how much he loved it and would love to appear in one.

The executive had an "ah-ha" moment in his head and probably heard "ch-ching!" in his head also and got the wheels in motion to have Pryor star in Superman III.

Had the movie been written differently, I think Pryor could have played a real villain, as he had showed dramatic acting chops in Some Kind Of Hero, but the studio played on his image as a comic goofball and the movie suffered as a result.

Exactly what I meant. That's what Star Trek IV would have turned into if they used Eddie Murphy. Why else would they use him? At that time Eddie was a big star and they wanted to cash in. Why would you need Eddie Murphy in a star Trek movie? Fortunately they came to their senses and realized they didn't need him.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Exactly what I meant. That's what Star Trek IV would have turned into if they used Eddie Murphy. Why else would they use him? At that time Eddie was a big star and they wanted to cash in. Why would you need Eddie Murphy in a star Trek movie? Fortunately they came to their senses and realized they didn't need him.

Yep. At that point in time, Eddie Murphy was essentially playing himself in all his movies, which were just vehicles for him. And while it might have been amusing to have him in the movie, it may have undermined the story a bit.

In this case, cooler and more rational heads prevailed and we got a great Star Trek movie for the 20th anniversary.

[Torgo]

THANKFULLY they didn't go that route. I like Murphy, but he just does not fit the Star Trek universe, unless he played it straight, which I doubt they would have.

[king of comedy]

Superman 3 was garbage and the worst of the Christopher Reeve series. Richard Pryor was playing himself and was ubelieveable as a bad guy. He should have played it straight. Looking back now, I'm glad Eddie didn't do Star Trek. I'm glad he is a fan of it.

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Superman 3 was garbage and the worst of the Christopher Reeve series. Richard Pryor was playing himself and was ubelieveable as a bad guy. He should have played it straight. Looking back now, I'm glad Eddie didn't do Star Trek. I'm glad he is a fan of it.

Pryor wasn't playing a bad guy (which is why Superman didn't have him arrested and let him go), he was playing a guy who got caught up with the bad guys and got in over his head.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Torgo

Pryor wasn't playing a bad guy (which is why Superman didn't have him arrested and let him go), he was playing a guy who got caught up with the bad guys and got in over his head.

Superman III was embarrassing and forgettable so let's forget it.