Judge Reinhold recently reflected on what he perceives as a setback in his acting career, pointing to a pivotal moment surrounding his leading role in the 1988 film “Vice Versa.” In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair published on June 13, the 67-year-old actor, best known for his roles in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, attributed the film’s lackluster performance at the box office to what he described as an “executive murder plot” orchestrated by former Columbia Pictures CEO David Puttnam.
Reinhold explained that David Puttnam, renowned for producing “Chariots of Fire,” took over Columbia Pictures and introduced reforms aimed at reducing the costs associated with lead actors while increasing backend profits. While Reinhold initially believed in Puttnam’s creative vision and reformative approach, he suggested that the executive’s tenure at Columbia Pictures was short-lived, leaving “Vice Versa” and similar films caught in the crossfire of shifting studio strategies.
“Vice Versa,” a body-swap comedy where Reinhold plays a divorced executive who switches bodies with his 11-year-old son after encountering a mystical skull, debuted amidst a wave of similar movies in the late 1980s. Reinhold noted that this competitive landscape, which included films like “Like Father Like Son,” “Big,” and “18 Again,” may have diluted the audience appeal and contributed to the film’s underperformance.
Despite the challenges faced by “Vice Versa” and its impact on Reinhold’s career trajectory, he continued to make notable contributions to Hollywood. Apart from reprising his role as Billy Rosewood in all installments of the Beverly Hills Cop series, Reinhold ventured into other projects, including appearances in TV shows like “Ellen,” “Monk,” and “Arrested Development.” His enduring presence in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise remains a significant highlight, with Reinhold set to reprise his role alongside Eddie Murphy in Netflix’s upcoming film, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” slated for release on July 3.
The Beverly Hills Cop series, which debuted in 1984, propelled Eddie Murphy to stardom and spawned two successful sequels. The forthcoming Netflix installment, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” marks a highly anticipated reunion of original cast members Murphy, Reinhold, John Ashton, and Paul Reiser, alongside new additions such as Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Taylour Paige.
As Reinhold prepares to revisit his iconic role in the Netflix revival, his reflections on “Vice Versa” shed light on the complexities and challenges of navigating Hollywood’s ever-evolving landscape, where creative vision and studio dynamics often intersect in unexpected ways.
