Legendary actor Eddie Murphy is stepping back in front of the camera — and this time, he’s taking on a delightfully quirky role. The comedian recently confirmed he’ll be starring in a new Pink Panther film as the iconic Inspector Clouseau.
"And I'm going to be — I'm Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther," Murphy casually revealed during an appearance on the Today show on July 28. "Yeah, I'm the new Clouseau."
Today show co-anchor Al Roker followed up by asking if Murphy planned to portray the character in the classic French style, to which Murphy replied, "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."
Back in May 2023, reports surfaced that Murphy was in negotiations to lead a Pink Panther reboot directed by Jeff Fowler, the mind behind Sonic the Hedgehog, but that version reportedly encountered hurdles in development. Details about the newer version Murphy referenced are still scarce, but patience will reveal more.
The original Pink Panther film debuted in 1963, with Peter Sellers originating the role of the bumbling yet essential Inspector Clouseau — a part he reprised in five sequels. Sellers passed away in 1980 at age 54, after which Steve Martin took over the role for two 2000s sequels. The Pink Panther, a 2006 reboot, was followed by a sequel, The Pink Panther 2, three years later.
As for Murphy, he’s currently busy with Shrek 5, set to hit theaters around Christmas next year. He’s also starring in the action comedy The Pickup, arriving on Prime Video on August 6.
