Eddie Murphy hints his movie career could be over after he returns to stand-up

Eddie Murphy is currently in the midst of a big screen comeback, but he has hinted that his imminent return to stand-up comedy might put a permanent end to his movie career.

The 58-year-old star, who is currently starring in Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name, has several projects in the pipeline, but has said the end of his career is on the horizon.

Read more: Trailer for Dolemite Is My Name

He told the Wall Street Journal that he likely won’t have much appetite for the movie business once he returns to his roots and revives his stand-up comedy persona.

“Once I get back on stage, I kind of feel like that’s what I was born to do more than anything,” he said. “When I get back on the stage, I can’t imagine wanting to do movies again.”

Murphy has several movies on the way, including a sequel to 1988 comedy Coming to America and the long-gestating Beverly Hills Cop 4, which he is set to shoot next.

He has said that he will make a return to stand-up comedy after his current film commitments are up, more than 30 years after his concert films Raw and Delirious helped to make his name in the 1980s.

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The actor has spent the last few decades moving away from adult material, performing as Donkey in the money-spinning Shrek franchise.

He said he is keen not to grow old on the big screen and that this is behind his decision to take on fewer film roles in the years to come.

Murphy said: “Being an old dude in the movies? That’s not it.

“Let them watch me get old, get all old looking. Like: ‘you see Eddie’s new movie? He looks terrible.’”

Murphy is receiving his best critical notices in years for Dolemite Is My Name, in which he portrays comedian and actor Rudy Ray Moore, who performed under the name Dolemite.

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The Netflix film currently has a 97% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and is attracting Oscar buzz around Murphy’s central performance.