Eddie Murphy has signed to his take on a legendary character for his latest film role.
During an interview with TODAY on Monday, July 28, the comedy legend revealed that he will star in a new The Pink Panther movie.
I’m getting ready to do a George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic. I’m getting ready to do George Clinton,” Murphy told Today co-host. “[I’ve] already started Shrek 5. And I’m going to be— I’m Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther.”
“Yeah, I’m the new Clouseau,” he continued.
When Roker asked Murphy whether he would play Clouseau — the detective made famous by Peter Sellers, as French, Murphy laughed and said, “Maybe.”
“Well, he has to be French, but he could also be Haitian. I will tell you, he’s Black,” Murphy continued. “He’s Black, for sure.”
Sellers, as Inspector Clouseau, played the character in a number of films in the franchise in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80 before his passing in 1980. Steve Martin also starred as the character in a 2006 reboot and a 2009 sequel co-starring Beyoncé.
Busy as ever, Murphy was promoting his new film The Pickup on TODAY which is slated for release on August 6.
“When I had fight scenes, during the fight scene, the actors, they were improvising and they were two young guys and both of them said, ‘Come on, old man!’ I almost said cut. I was like, ‘Who are they talking to?’” Murphy told me at “The Pickup” premiere Sunday in Los Angeles. “It’s like I’m the old guy in the fight scene,” Murphy told Variety about his experience filming the movie.
Along with the fifth Shrek movie, Murphy also told Screen Rant that he will voice his beloved character Donkey in a standalone film that starts production in September.