Trivia / Vampire in Brooklyn

• Acting for Two: Eddie Murphy plays Maximillian, a black pastor named Preacher Pauley, and an ugly low-life Italian gangster named Guido. Which makes sense because Maximillian kills and impersonates both Preacher Pauley and Guido, so it would be easier if Murphy also played them.
• Contractual Obligation Project: Murphy only did this film in order for him to be released from his exclusive contract with Paramount, which began with his Star-Making Role 48 Hrs., to work on The Nutty Professor, which was under Universal Studios.
• Creator Backlash: Both Eddie Murphy and Wes Craven have disowned this movie. Craven said that it taught him a hard lesson about doing Horror Comedy, one that he put to use when he went on to make Scream (1996) the following year.
  "We are making a satire — a genre satire. However, never fall into the trap of playing funny. If this film isn't Scary, it will not be funny. I learned that lesson on Vampire in Brooklyn."
• Creator's Favorite Episode: Kadeem Hardison really enjoyed working with Allen Payne and Wes Craven and considered it to be his favorite work. He also praised Eddie Murphy, calling him a "comic genius".
• Fatal Method Acting: Stunt performer Sonja Davis was fatally injured performing a 42-foot backward fall.
• Mid-Development Genre Shift: According to Charlie Murphy, the movie was originally going to be a straight horror film with no laughs, but Wes Craven brought a different focus to it.
• Playing Against Type: This was the first time Eddie Murphy ever played a villain.
• Scully Box: Eddie Murphy wore lifts to make himself look taller.
• Wag the Director: Wes Craven claimed that Eddie Murphy ignored his requests to play the character vulnerable, and felt compelled to showcase his comedic talents.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Eddie Murphy wanted Jada Pinkett Smith to play Rita Veder, but she turned it down to play in Demon Knight. But, later they eventually appear together in The Nutty Professor (1996).
  • The climax of the movie was meant to be a huge action scene on the Brooklyn Bridge but Paramount cut the budget.

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