Eddie Murphy is going to think pink.
The comedy legend has revealed that he will take on the role of Inspector Clouseau in a new โPink Pantherโ movie.
Murphy, who stars in the upcoming action comedy โThe Pickup,โ with Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer, said playing the iconic character is on the docket of his upcoming projects.
โIโm getting ready to do a George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic. Iโm getting ready to do George Clinton,โ he told Al Roker about playing the funk music legend in an interview that aired July 28 on TODAY.
โ(Iโve) already started โShrek 5.โ And Iโm going to be โ Iโm Inspector Clouseau in the next โPink Panther,'” he continued.
โWait, what?โ asked a surprised Al.
โYeah, Iโm the new Clouseau,โ Murphy replied.
โYouโre the new Inspector Clouseau?โ Al asked.
โYeah, Iโm the new Clouseau,โ the โBeverly Hills Copโ star confirmed.
Al then asked if Murphy, 64, will be French in the film, like the character is.
โMaybe,โ he coyly responded while laughing. โWell, he has to be French, but he could also be Haitian. I will tell you, heโs Black. Heโs Black, for sure.โ
The role of the bumbling Inspector Clouseau was originated by Peter Sellers in 1963โs โThe Pink Panther,” and he appeared in multiple sequels before his death.
Steve Martin took on the role in the 2006 reboot โThe Pink Panther,” and reprised the part in โThe Pink Panther 2โ in 2009.
Murphy, who has been linked to Inspector Clouseau for years, also has his eyes on another famous 1960s film, previously saying he’s interested in remaking the 1963 comedy โItโs a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.โ
Murphy acknowledged his roles have have changed over the years, as heโs shifted away from the wisecracking upstart to a more mature presence.
โUsually Iโm the young maverick guy. And now โIโm the old voice of reason,โ he said, while also pointing out the trouble that comes with doing action films when you’re not so young anymore.
โWhen you get our age, you have to pay,โ he continued. โIf you whip somebodyโs ass when youโre our age, you kind of whip your own ass, too.โ
