Eddie Murphy And Arsenio Hall Reunite, Discuss ‘Coming To America’ Sequel
Eddie Murphy made a special appearance on Tuesday night’s Arsenio Hall Show. The reunion prompted the men to discuss a sequel to Coming to America. Fans have been asking about a sequel for 25 years.
In the 1988 film, Murphy plays an African prince who travels to Queens, New York, to find a suitable wife. Murphy and Hall both played numerous characters throughout the comedy, highlighting their talent and versatility.
Although the film did not receive any major awards, it was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup at the 1989 Academy Awards.
While discussing a sequel, Murphy said there were simply too many misunderstandings and lawsuits following the film’s release. One man reportedly filed a civil case, accusing the film’s producers of stealing his life story. The man claimed he was an African prince who came to the United States to meet and marry a woman he saw in a Michael Jackson video.
As reported by Huffington Post, Murphy said the man confronted him while at a club:
“There was some dude who was claiming he was the prince. I be out in the club and this African dude would roll up on me and say, ‘I am the real prince! You stole my life from me! And I want my money! I’ll kill you!'”
It is difficult to tell if the story is true, as both men are skilled and convincing pranksters. Regardless, it is refreshing to see Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reunited.The men may not be interested in rehashing the 1988 film, but the chemistry is still there.
Eddie Murphy is a native of Brooklyn. As a stand-up comic, he got his big break when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. His versatile style and contagious laugh carried him to the big screen at the age of 21. His most successful films were Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop.
Arsenio Hall also started as a stand-up comedian. Biography.com reports that his comedy show eventually gained the attention of Aretha Franklin. After opening for Franklin, Hall went on to appear in several films, including Harlem Nights. In 1989, Hall became the first black late-night talk show host.
Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall both have diverse and successful careers. It was great to see them back together on the same stage.
[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]
