‘The Pink Panther’: Eddie Murphy Confirms Role in Comedy Reboot!!

Eddie Murphy is officially following in the footsteps of a fellow Saturday Night Live favorite for his next big comedic role. Back in 2023, the beloved star was cast to lead a new reboot of The Pink Panther, entering talks to take on the iconic role of the bumbling French Inspector Clouseau, made famous by original star Peter Sellers and once played by the great Steve Martin. Although it’s been over two years since the announcement, Murphy recently confirmed in an appearance on Today back in late July while promoting The Pickup that he would indeed be donning the trench coat. It’ll be one of several sizable roles he’s set to take on over the next few years.

“I’m going to be, I’m the new Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther,” Murphy announced to shocked co-host Al Roker. “Yeah, I’m the new Clouseau.” Considering how long it had been since initial reports of his involvement in the reboot under Amazon MGM Studios, it’s no wonder the anchor was taken aback by the news. When Roker asked if he would play the inspector as French like his predecessors, he said, “Maybe,” before quickly clarifying. “Well, he has to be French, but he could also be Haitian. I will tell you, he’s Black. He’s Black, for sure.”

Co-written and directed by Blake Edwards, with Maurice Richlin also helping pen the script, the original 1963 Pink Panther introduced Clouseau as an eccentric and extremely clumsy parody of Agatha Christie‘s great detective, Hercule Poirot. Despite being woefully incompetent and often his own worst enemy, he also manages to solve each mystery he’s presented with through sheer happenstance. Martin picked up the mantle in 2006 with Shawn Levy‘s modernized take, though it was never as critically beloved as the original series of films and helped spur MGM to take another stab at bringing the inspector back to life. Murphy certainly has the legacy to take on such a vaunted role, becoming a star on SNL before cementing himself as a comedic legend through films like the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Coming to America, and Bowfinger with Martin. It’s unclear if any other plans for the reboot have changed, as it was set to be helmed by Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler and would’ve been a live-action CGI hybrid involving the animated Pink Panther mascot.

Eddie Murphy Has Plenty on His Plate Besides ‘The Pink Panther’

As The Pink Panther remains in development, Murphy is keeping busy with a load of high-profile roles both in live-action and in the recording booth. He’s set for a big return to Far Far Away with Shrek 5, now set to release in theaters on June 30, 2027, and a spin-off centered on his lovably annoying Donkey. Also in the conversation with Roker, he confirmed that he’s also preparing to step into the shoes of the great George Clinton, the Godfather of Funk at the heart of Parliament-Funkadelic. Like Pink Panther, the biopic is one he’s long been attached to, with Bill Condon set to take the reins in a reunion with Murphy after their work together on 2006’s Dreamgirls.