Legendary actor Eddie Murphy is stepping back in front of the camera for what promises to be an entertaining new role. The comedy icon recently shared exciting news about joining an upcoming Pink Panther movie in a key capacity.
"I'll be playing Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther installment," Murphy casually revealed during his July 28 appearance on the Today show. "That's right - I'm taking on the Clouseau mantle."
When Today co-anchor Al Roker asked whether he'd adopt the character's classic French mannerisms, Murphy playfully responded, "Possibly. While he must be French, there's room for interpretation - he could have Haitian roots too. One thing's certain: this version of Clouseau will be Black."
Reports surfaced in May 2023 about Murphy negotiating to lead a Pink Panther reboot with Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler, though that particular production faced developmental challenges. Details about this newly announced version remain scarce for now.
The original Pink Panther debuted in 1963, with Peter Sellers creating the beloved bumbling inspector character across five sequels until his 1980 passing at age 54. Steve Martin later revived the role for two 2000s-era films - 2006's The Pink Panther and its 2009 sequel.
Meanwhile, Murphy continues his busy slate - he's currently voicing Donkey in Shrek 5 (slated for Christmas 2024) and stars in the action-comedy The Pickup, premiering August 6 on Prime Video.
