Eddie Murphy Reflects on 50-Year Career, Potential Oscar and Comeback Plans

As of November 12, 2025, legendary comedian Eddie Murphy is celebrating 50 years in the entertainment industry. To mark this milestone, Murphy has collaborated with director Angus Wall on a revealing Netflix documentary titled "Being Eddie," set to premiere on the streaming platform.

The film chronicles Murphy's remarkable journey, from his early days as a stand-up comedian to his breakout role on Saturday Night Live and his subsequent rise to stardom in blockbuster films like "Beverly Hills Cop," "The Nutty Professor," and "Shrek." The documentary features interviews with Murphy himself, as well as a host of industry luminaries, including Jamie Foxx, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

In the documentary, Murphy opens up about putting past feuds behind him, including mending his relationship with director John Landis, who helmed two of Murphy's most acclaimed films, "Trading Places" and "Coming to America." Murphy also discusses his 2019 return as host of Saturday Night Live, acknowledging the importance of reconciling with the show's team.

While Murphy remains open to the idea of returning to stand-up comedy, he emphasizes that he must be "having fun" for it to work. Addressing the ongoing debate around "cancel culture," the 64-year-old comedian asserts that he would not be concerned about potential backlash, stating that he would "say what I wanted to say and do whatever I wanted to do."

One of the most intriguing moments in the documentary comes when Murphy reflects on his lack of an Oscar win, despite acclaimed performances in films like "Dreamgirls." He dismisses the notion that his comedic background has prevented him from receiving critical recognition, arguing that there are many talented comedians who have been overlooked. However, Murphy does tease a hypothetical scenario in which he would accept an honorary Oscar at the age of 90, promising to urinate on himself during the acceptance speech as an act of defiance.

As for his upcoming projects, Murphy is excited about the prospect of reuniting with his "Dreamgirls" director, Bill Condon, for a film about legendary funk musician George Clinton. He also remains enthusiastic about reprising his iconic role as Donkey in the upcoming "Shrek" sequel, which will feature the addition of Zendaya to the cast.