The Pickup, a heist action comedy headlined by legendary actor Eddie Murphy, premieres on Amazon Prime Video on August 6. The film’s logline reads: ‘A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armoured truck drivers get ambushed by ruthless criminals. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.’

Directed by Tim Story, The Pickup also stars Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson. Recently, Murphy joined his co-stars and director for a virtual interaction with select global media, including t2. Eva Longoria also stars in The Pickup. Excerpts from the interaction.

Pete, if you had to describe The Pickup to somebody who hasn’t seen the trailer yet and didn’t know anything about it, how would you do it?

Pete Davidson: It is one of those fun early 2000s old-school action comedy. There is never a dull moment. It is an hour and 40 minutes of just fun. You can watch it with everybody. There is some character for everyone to like. I think it is right down the middle fastball.
Eddie Murphy: To me, it felt more of an ’80s comedy....

Tim, what was it like working with this incredible cast — you also have Eva Longoria in the film — who represent such different perspectives and approaches to comedy but similar approaches to work ethic and want the best experience for moviegoers. Were you like: “These are my ‘Avengers’ right now?!”

Tim Story: Good word... Avengers! My career has a little bit been about trying to chase this man (Eddie Murphy) and do a movie with him. Then I got him and Pete together in this film and many people have said that it is a pairing you didn’t realise you needed so much. To that, you add Keke (Palmer) and it was just a bag of riches that kept coming out. It is pretty much an ’80s kind of comedy....

Keke, this film gave you the chance to act with one of your comedy idols, Eddie Murphy. What was that like?

Keke Palmer: It was a dream come true, honestly. I have worked with Pete before and it was great to work with him again — this time face to face — because the last thing we did was a podcast during Covid. Pete is really funny. He makes me laugh. And with Eddie, I was just observing and watching him the whole time... and then I was happy because I asked him his favourite movie, which was The Nutty Professor (1996)... and it is my favourite too! Those characters (seven in total) that he made were so real.

When I was little, I was like: ‘Is that really Eddie playing?! That is not a real mama!’ Every single character was so truthful. It was comedy, but it was truthful. And on The Pickup, I got to watch a masterclass of him continuously playing the truth. Every improvisation, every joke... he always knew how to add to it in the right way. It was an honour and I can’t wait to do it again. Call me, Eddie!

Eddie, at this stage of your career, what was it about The Pickup that made you say: ‘Let’s go in!’?

Eddie: The script was solid! Usually, these pieces take years to develop and I get to see a bunch of different drafts of the script. But this thing was there 90 per cent when I read it the first time. I was like: ‘Hey, this could work!’ Then, we got Tim on board and it just came together really quick. So yes, the script being solid is why I jumped on it.

Pete, we were talking off camera about how you encouraged everyone in this film to step outside of what was on page and really make the scene their own and to try new things. Were there lines that you delivered that you think will never see the light of day?

Pete: Oh, a lot of stuff! I was saying some foul shit! Some of it is in the film, though. But Tim was very trusting of all of us, so even though we went by the script, he would also kind of let us have fun... some of the best moments in the film are just all of us messing around!

Tim, you are no stranger to fast-paced, character-driven comedy. But when you got back into the edit with all of this material, how difficult was it for you to make the choices in what would stay and what couldn’t?

Tim: I am a slave to the comedy rules. You put it together. If it works and an audience laughs, we keep it. If it doesn’t work, we get rid of it. And that is what is fun. The scenes between Eddie and Pete, and also Keke, gave me a lot of nuggets. But at the same time, what is fun about it is they are also very surgical. Like once they lock into what makes the scene work, they just give you more of that.

Eddie, what were your first impressions of Pete and Keke?

Eddie: My first impression wasn’t on the set with Pete. I knew him from SNL (Saturday Night Live). I had seen Keke in the series Pimp and I had thought: ‘Wow, this girl is good!’ Then I watched a game show (Password) she hosted and it was a totally different human being there. And then I figured that she is nothing like any of that off camera. She even sings!

Keke, what does it feel like to hear that from Eddie?

Keke: Man, I could cry, to be quite honest. Eddie is literally the blueprint. I remember watching Trading Places (1983). Like I said, I have grown up on all his movies. He has done things that could never be done again. For me, to be around him and to see how he has had the longevity he has had was amazing.

He has his family and his kids. I don’t know if you remember, Eddie, but the first time I met you was with Bria and Shayne (Eddie’s daughters). They invited me over to your house for dinner. And you came down and was just being a typical dad... you were playing your guitar. That was the first time I met you.

Which is your favourite heist comedy film? Tell t2@abp.in