In the 1990s, Eddie Murphy was at the peak of his career, having already established himself as a Hollywood star with hits like '48 Hrs.', 'Trading Places', and 'Beverly Hills Cop'. His stand-up comedy special 'Raw' further solidified his status as a legitimate hitmaker. With such success, Murphy had the freedom to choose his projects, and one intriguing option was 'The Green Hornet'.
The Green Hornet was a superhero character with a unique twist: he was a wealthy publisher by day and a masked vigilante by night. His sidekick, Kato, and he would navigate the streets in their high-tech car, Black Beauty, taking down criminals. The character's origin story was also intriguing, as he used his identity as a criminal to infiltrate the underworld. The 1966 TV adaptation, starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee, had set the stage for a potential big-budget movie.
In 1992, a script for 'The Green Hornet' was written by Don Mancini, and it was reported that Eddie Murphy was interested in playing the lead role of Britt Reid. The script was said to have a light, caper-like tone, with a lot of humor, and it would have been an origin story, detailing how Britt Reid became the Green Hornet. The character's connection to the Lone Ranger was also included, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative.
However, there was a catch. A Universal exec named Tom Craig was also involved, and he wanted to make an Eddie Murphy superhero movie. But, there was a conflicting story. Mark Lipsky, the executive producer of Murphy's 1992 romance 'Boomerang', stated that they had no interest in 'The Green Hornet' at the time. This left the question of Murphy's true interest in the project open to interpretation.
The proposed movie faced a long journey through development hell. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Michel Gondry were all attached to the project at different points, but it never materialized. In 2009, Seth Rogen took on the lead role, and the movie was finally released in 2011, 29 years after Murphy was first mentioned as a potential star. Despite the delay, the film received a modest success and positive reviews from critics.
The story of Eddie Murphy and 'The Green Hornet' is a fascinating one, highlighting the challenges of bringing a superhero movie to life and the changing dynamics of Hollywood's approach to superhero adaptations.
