‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' features nods to Black hockey history

The script of the new sequel starring Eddie Murphy includes various references.

Grant Fuhr gave the scene in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” five stars.

In the latest Netflix release, the quick-witted detective Axel Foley, portrayed by Eddie Murphy, cleverly informs a group of thieves that he has taken up the position of the Detroit Red Wings’ goalie. This unexpected revelation occurs while they are in the midst of trying to carry out a heist in the team’s dressing room situated at Little Caesars Arena.

Foley asserts, “I have been honored with the Stanley Cup five times. However, all I desire now are my goalie pads.”

Fuhr, the sole African-American goaltender to secure the Stanley Cup five times, achieved this remarkable feat while playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the years 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. He genuinely cherished every moment of this incredible journey.

“He said he found it quite amusing. He mentioned that several friends had called him, urging him to watch something. Confused, he replied, ‘Why? I’ve already watched all the “Beverly Hills Cop” movies.’ They insisted, ‘No, no, you really need to see this one.’ He believes it’s fantastic and a tremendous honor.”

In the opening moments of the popular action-comedy sequel, there are multiple instances, including the goalie line, that pay tribute to the rich history of Black hockey.

The screenplay was written by Kevin Etten, a member of the writing staff for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” who identifies as a “hockey guy.” Alongside his partner Tom Gormican, Etten and Will Beall collaborated on this project.

While attending Harvard University, Etten not only played hockey but also honed his comedic skills as a member of The Harvard Lampoon. This undergraduate humor publication has been instrumental in launching the careers of renowned personalities like Conan O’Brien, Colin Jost from “Saturday Night Live,” and talented writers for acclaimed shows like “Seinfeld,” “Veep,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

When Etten first laid eyes on the hockey scenes in an early draft of the script (which were filmed at Little Caesars Arena in December 2022), he immediately realized that “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” was the ideal project for him.

He mentioned that having Jerry Bruckheimer, the renowned Hollywood movie and TV producer and member of the Seattle Kraken ownership group, involved in the film was an added advantage.

He expressed, “Since I used to play hockey, I thought to myself, ‘Oh, I’m confident that I can have a great time and create something really hilarious.’ I believed there were numerous possibilities to explore by combining Eddie Murphy and hockey, so my primary focus was on crafting hockey jokes.” His partner, who isn’t particularly interested in hockey, responded with, “Hey, go ahead and let loose, my friend.”

Etten embraced his partner’s suggestion and enthusiastically ran with the hockey jokes.

Etten expressed that one of our initial focuses was discovering the comedic elements for Eddie during the opening scenes. Writing for Eddie Murphy was truly an honor, and it was amazing to hear him speak the words we had written. However, Eddie also added his unique touch to the script by incorporating his own ideas, removing certain parts, and finding the perfect rhythm.

Etten acknowledged that he had thought of the Black goalie joke without initially realizing that Fuhr had won the Cup five times. He admitted, “To be honest, I didn’t make that connection when I wrote the joke.”

Etten, who was a writer for Letterman from 1993-2015 and collaborated with Gormican on the screenplay for the 2022 film “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” explained that his initial intention was simply to craft humorous jokes. However, he found the idea of Eddie Murphy exclaiming, “Where are my goalie pads?”, to be particularly amusing.

Etten expressed her amazement at hearing that Grant Fuhr was receiving calls, as she had grown up watching the Oilers teams. She found it remarkable and heartwarming that Grant Fuhr found it amusing, bringing her immense joy.

In a playful manner, Foley, a fellow detective, jokingly reveals his passion for hockey by mentioning his great-grandfather’s involvement in the “Negro leagues in Winnipeg” as a player for the renowned “Winnipeg Black Guys,” drawing inspiration from the annals of hockey history.

Although Winnipeg did not possess an all-Black team or league, this line recognizes the Colored Hockey League of the Canadian Maritimes, which was active from 1895 until the 1930s.

Etten, originally from Chicago but raised in Minnesota, revealed that his introduction to the league came while coaching his son’s team in California and from avidly watching it on television.

He expressed, “I constantly tune in to hockey games on TNT, and I recall Anson Carter discussing it. Additionally, I religiously watch ‘Hockey Night in Canada.’ It was through one of these shows that I first became aware of the sport’s existence.”

According to George Fosty, who co-authored the book “Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Canadian Maritimes, 1895-1925” in 2004, this reference indicates a growing recognition of the history of Black hockey.

“It’s intriguing that it has gained attention in the mainstream media,” remarked Fosty. “It suggests that it has become ingrained in the very essence of our society. Recently, there have been a few other mentions and movies centered around Black hockey. For instance, an episode of ‘NCIS’ from a few years ago made allusions to Black hockey originating from Nova Scotia. It is no longer a niche occurrence.”