Eddie Murphy Might Play Clouseau in The New Pink Panther Reboot

The hilarious Eddie Murphy may soon take on the role of the clumsy Inspector Clouseau in a new version of The Pink Panther. 

The original film, released in 1963, featured the brilliant Peter Sellers as the inept detective who tries to catch a jewel thief. The movie was so popular that it led to a series of sequels, ending with The Curse of the Pink Panther in 1983. 

After Sellers passed away, the franchise continued with Son of the Pink Panther in 1993, starring Roberto Benigni as Clouseau’s son. 

In 2006, Steve Martin revived the character of Clouseau in a reboot directed by Shawn Levy and again in 2009’s The Pink Panther 2.

The Pink Panther franchise is getting a fresh makeover, with Eddie Murphy reportedly in talks to play the goofy Inspector Clouseau (via THR). The Shrek star may join forces with Jeff Fowler, the director of Sonic the Hedgehog, who is set to helm the new reboot. 

Written by Chris Bremner, the twist in this reboot is that the animated Pink Panther character will also be part of the action. The animated Pink Panther first appeared in the opening credits of the original films and later became an iconic cartoon character. 

The plot involves the Pink Panther escaping from jail and teaming up with a real-world thief for a heist.

After becoming a massive star in the 1980s with his SNL sketches, movies, and stand-up comedy, Murphy shifted to more family-friendly roles in the 1990s. 

One of his most successful films was The Nutty Professor in 1996, where he played several characters. Murphy tried another remake in 1998 with Dr. Dolittle. Although the film made $294 million at the box office, it failed to impress critics and has a low rating of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Murphy continued to make sequels for The Nutty Professor and Dr. Dolittle, but in 2002 he tried a new remake with I Spy. Based on the classic TV show with Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, I Spy paired Murphy with Owen Wilson, but the movie was a flop, making only $60 million on a $70 million budget.

Since I Spy’s failure, Murphy has made a fortune as Donkey in the Shrek movies while trying darker comedies like Tower Heist, and Dolemite is My Name.

Currently, Murphy’s fans are eagerly waiting for him to reprise his role as Axel Foley in the long-awaited Beverly Hills Cop 4. 

Murphy’s potential take on Clouseau in a new Pink Panther reboot is also intriguing, as his skill for playing different characters could suit the part of a detective very well.