Eddie Murphy Addresses His New Take on Inspector Clouseau in Pink Panther Reboot

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Eddie Murphy is stepping into the role of Inspector Clouseau in a new Pink Panther movie. This will be a fresh start for the long-running franchise, which last saw a film in 2006 starring Steve Martin. Murphy, known for his work in The Nutty Professor, will be taking over the iconic character.

Eddie Murphy, who previously acted with Steve Martin in the 1999 film Bowfinger, discussed his approach to playing the iconic Inspector Clouseau in the new movie. He said he didn’t ask Martin for advice, but is excited to bring his own unique take to the role.

Eddie Murphy explained that he immediately thinks of Peter Sellers when he hears ‘Pink Panther,’ referencing Sellers’ iconic role as Inspector Clouseau in the original 1963 film. He considers Sellers the definitive Pink Panther and expressed interest in seeing a fresh take on the character, noting that other comedians have also played the part.

Eddie Murphy explained his reasoning for taking on certain roles, saying he often felt a responsibility to be the first Black actor to portray a specific character. He used the examples of Dr. Dolittle and Inspector Clouseau, noting that a Black actor had never played those roles before. He saw playing Clouseau as similar to being a Black James Bond, and he was excited to break new ground for Black representation in those kinds of films.

Eddie Murphy is still waiting for the script for the next Pink Panther movie, so its release date is uncertain. He recently asked an associate why the script hadn’t arrived, as they had previously discussed it being delivered in October. Murphy also inquired about the status of another project, Mad, Mad World, which was also expected in October, according to his associate.

Murphy’s Role Was Announced This Summer

Eddie Murphy revealed in a July 2025 interview on the Today show that he’ll be taking on the role of Inspector Clouseau in a new Pink Panther film. He confirmed, “I’m the new Clouseau.” When asked if his version of the character would be French, Murphy responded with a playful “Maybe,” adding that while Clouseau traditionally is French, his take could also be Haitian. He definitively stated, “He’s Black. He’s Black, for sure.”

Okay, so The Pink Panther is a classic! It all started back in 1963 with Blake Edwards and Maurice Richlin at the helm. Peter Sellers absolutely killed it as Inspector Clouseau – that clumsy detective trying to protect this incredible diamond, ‘The Pink Panther.’ That first movie was so good, it spawned a whole series – nine films in total! Then Steve Martin had a go at it with a reboot in 2006. Now, it looks like Eddie Murphy is taking a crack at bringing Clouseau back to the big screen, and they’ve been working on it since 2023.

Jeff Fowler, the director of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, is now taking on Inspector Clouseau and The Pink Panther. He’s working with writer Chris Bremmer, who is crafting the script based on the characters originally created by Edwards and Richlin. You can currently watch the original Pink Panther movie on Prime Video.

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2025-11-12 22:38