Eddie Murphy is gearing up to bring a beloved detective comedy back to life. In a recent interview with Today, Murphy announced that he will take on the role of Inspector Clouseau in a new installment of The Pink Panther series. This announcement is just one of several projects Murphy is currently working on, including the upcoming fifth installment of the Shrek franchise and a film centered around music legend George Clinton.
“I’m preparing to portray George Clinton in a new project about Parliament-Funkadelic,” Murphy shared. “I’ve already started working on Shrek 5, and now I’m stepping into the role of Inspector Clouseau for the next Pink Panther movie.”
When asked whether his Clouseau would be French, as the character traditionally is, Murphy responded with a hint of humor. “He’s gotta be French, but he could also be something else,” he said. “Maybe. I mean, he definitely has to be Black. That’s for sure.”
The Pink Panther series first debuted in 1963, with Peter Sellers famously portraying the bumbling detective Jacques Clouseau. The franchise centers around Clouseau’s comedic efforts to recover a valuable diamond called the “Pink Panther,” known for the distinctive flaw in its center that resembles a pink panther. Over the years, the franchise has released a total of 11 films, with the most recent being the 2006 reboot directed by Shawn Levy, starring Steve Martin, followed by a 2009 sequel.
On top of all that Eddie Murphy has also confirmed that a Donkey spin-off movie is also in the pipeline. The renowned actor and comedian revealed in a recent interview that he will begin work on a Donkey-centered project later this year.
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