Anyone armed with a magnifying glass looking for clues as to who will star in the forthcoming reboot ofThe Pink Pantherfranchise can stop the search, as comedy legendEddie Murphyhas confirmed that he is taking on the famed role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the new film, which comes 16 years after the last installment. TheBeverly Hills Copstar has beencircling the role since 2023, but he has now officially added it to his slate of upcoming projects. He made the surprise announcement while speaking to Today’s Al Roker:
“I’m getting ready to do a George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic. I’m getting ready to do George Clinton. [I’ve] already startedShrek 5. And I’m going to be— I’m Inspector Clouseau in the nextPink Panther.”
Every Pink Panther Movie, Ranked
From 1963 to 2009, there have been a total of 11 Pink Panther movies, and this list determine which ones best captures the essence of the franchise.
Roker was clearly taken aback by the news, prompting Murphy to reiterate, “Yeah, I’m the new Clouseau.” However, when asked whether his version of the character would be French like previous portrayals, Murphy played it coy, saying, “Maybe,” before elaborating. “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 originated the role in the 1963’sThe Pink Panther(and multiple sequels after that), while Steve Martin famously played the part in the 2006 reboot and its 2009 sequel, so Murphy has big shoes to fill, though he brings plenty of experience to the role, having appeared in dozens of comedy films over the years. His recent credits includeBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Candy Cane Lane,andComing 2 America.He is also set to star in the action comedyThe Pickupand another moviecentered on one of his best and loudest characters.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Pink Panthermovies began with the 1963 comedy, which told the story of an inept detective tasked with catching a notorious jewel thief who had his sights set on stealing a priceless diamond known as “The Pink Panther.” The film spawned multiple sequels that launched Inspector Clouseau into a variety of situations, right the way through to 2009’sThe Pink Panther 2— the second film in an attempted reboot of the beloved comedy-mystery franchise that saw Steve Martin assume the role of the bumbling yet brilliant sleuth.
The original film is widely regarded as one of the best inThe Pink Pantherfilm series, as evidenced by its 89% critic score and 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Whereas the reboots were critically panned, with the 2006 film earning only 21% on the Tomatometer and its sequel dropping even further to 13%. The forthcoming Murphy-led project will no doubt be looking to replicate the success of the franchise’s earlier entries, rather than retread the reboots, with many citing a decline in the sophistication of the humor that defined the original.
Source:Today
Eddie Murphy
