Eddie Murphy Reflects on Big Career Misses: “I Wish I Would’ve Done Ghostbusters and Rush Hour”

Eddie Murphy

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy recently reflected on two high-profile roles he passed on when he revealed:

“Yeah, there’s a couple of movies — Ghostbusters, I was supposed to do Ghostbusters, and Rush Hour. Oh, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit … those are my big three ‘wish I would’ve done’ movies.”

Despite delivering one of Hollywood’s most iconic careers, Murphy admits that timing and script choices occasionally redirected his path. He explained that for all the laughter and box-office gold, the “what ifs” still linger. Passing on films like Ghostbusters and Rush Hour—both massive cultural phenomena—has given his legacy a layer of rueful introspection.

What makes this more than a celebrity anecdote is the lesson embedded in it: For writers, actors and creators alike, the right role at the right time often trumps bigger budgets or guaranteed paychecks. Even someone at Murphy’s level acknowledges the weight of that balance.

So for emerging African talent or creators building internationally: this isn’t purely about the roles you land, but the moments you choose. Because sometimes success is defined not just by what you do—but by what you almost did.