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40 Years Ago, Eddie Murphy Backed Out of Doing a ‘Star Trek’ Movie to Play One of His Least Celebrated Roles

Murphy was considered for a UFO-obsessed scientist role, but chose ‘The Golden Child’ instead and later questioned the decision.

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When 1986’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home first went into development at Paramount Pictures, the studio explored the possibility of adding Eddie Murphy to the cast. Murphy was on a hot streak at the time, having just starred in 48 Hrs., Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop back to back. He was also a self-proclaimed Trekkie and liked the idea of appearing in a Star Trek movie—initially, anyway. According to screenwriter Steve Meerson, between seven and ten script outlines were written before one finally got approved, but the original draft featured a part........

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