Eddie Murphy: Sofia Coppola's Dream Collaboration Revealed
The acclaimed director opens up about her unexpected choice for a future project, revealing which comedy legend she's always wanted to direct in a dramatic role.
Sofia Coppola's acting debut in The Godfather: Part III brought harsh criticism that could have ended her career before it started. Critics tore apart her performance, leaving many to write her off completely. But Coppola had different plans. Acting was never her true calling anyway.
She pivoted to modeling, photography, fashion design, music videos, and TV hosting. By the late 1990s, Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth handed her a copy of Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides. That book became her directorial breakthrough.
Building Her Creative Universe
The Virgin Suicides showcased Coppola's visual storytelling gift. She captured both the tragedy and fantasy surrounding the Lisbon sisters with stunning precision. The film resonated deeply with young women who saw their own struggles reflected in the story of societal and religious oppression.
This movie launched her partnership with Kirsten Dunst, creating one of cinema's most recognizable director-actor relationships. They worked together on Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, and The Beguiled. Coppola also brought Elle Fanning and Bill Murray into her regular cast rotation.
The Unexpected Choice
When Coppola finds actors who understand her melancholic yet dreamlike world, she holds onto them. She often writes roles specifically for these trusted collaborators. But her latest revelation might surprise people.
During a conversation with Emerald Fennell for Screen Daily, Coppola shared that she has "always wanted to work with Eddie Murphy," though she doesn't "have the idea or the project" yet.
Murphy's recent career has been filled with questionable comedies like The Adventures of Pluto Nash and Norbit. He's become known for fat suits and unrecognizable character transformations, often crossing gender and racial lines for cheap laughs.
Hidden Dramatic Potential
His career started strong with Saturday Night Live and Beverly Hills Cop. But the '90s and 2000s brought a string of box office disasters that damaged his reputation. Still, Murphy has shown flashes of his dramatic abilities.
His 2006 Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls proved he could handle serious material. His voice work as Donkey in the Shrek franchise has remained consistently popular. More recently, Dolemite Is My Name reminded audiences of his range beyond slapstick comedy.
Maybe Murphy needs more projects that distance him from movies like Daddy Day Care and Imagine That. Coppola could provide exactly that kind of credibility-building role if she decides to write something with him in mind. What she's planning next remains anyone's guess.