As if Eddie Murphy weren’t already synonymous with iconic franchises, the veteran comic and actor revealed today that he’d soon be taking on the famed role of Inspector Clouseau in a new Pink Panther movie.
Speaking to Today‘s Al Roker, Murphy said he had initially “planned on slowing down, and things just happened” with regard to his slate of upcoming projects.
“I’m getting ready to do a [biopic of] George Clinton, [his music collective] Parliament-Funkadelic. I’m getting ready to do George Clinton,” The Pickup star said. “I’ve already started Shrek 5. And I’m going to be — I’m Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther.”
When Roker reacted with surprise, asking if the canonically French character would still be written as such with Murphy occupying the role, the Saturday Night Live alum responded coyly: “Maybe. Well, he has to be French, but he could also be Haitian. I will tell you, he’s Black. He’s Black, for sure.”
Peter Sellers first originated the role of Inspector James Clouseau in 1963’s The Pink Panther, directed by Blake Edwards, an Italian and U.S. co-production about an inept detective who must stop a notorious jewel thief aiming to steal the precious Pink Panther diamond. The farcical character is a parody of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, and has been portrayed in various sequels by Alan Arkin, Roger Moore and, most recently, Steve Martin in the 2006 reboot and subsequent 2009 sequel. Also known simply as the Inspector, the character additionally appeared in various animated series featuring the anthropomorphic Pink Panther.
Murphy has previously been linked to the franchise (and, who could forget, its earworm of a theme song), with reports dating back to 2023.
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