A New Reboot of THE PINK PANTHER is in the Works and Has a Major Actor in Negotiations to Star

The Pink Panther Reboot Has Big Name Actor in Talks to Star

Eddie Murphy is in negotiations to portray the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in a Pink Panther reboot movie.

It’s been some 14 years since audiences had a funnyman play Inspector Jacques Clouseau in a Pink Panther movie. Steve Martin played the part in two movies in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Now, Eddie Murphy could be taking over the role and there will, perhaps, be more of the cartoon character in the forthcoming film as well. MGM is hoping to get Murphy, a longtime fan of Inspector Jacques Clouseau, to sign on to the project. Peter Sellers was the most popular actor to play the role successfully. This idea for a reboot may just be “A Shot in the Dark” but hey, it could work.

In 2006, MGM had a huge hit with The Pink Panther movie which starred Steve Martin. It grossed an astonishing $82 million domestically and another $81 million internationally. One problem, though: Audiences thought it was just OK and gave the movie a mere “B” CinemaScore grade. In 2009, audiences liked the sequel a bit more grading it a “B+” CinemaScore but the movie crashed and burned at the box-office grossing just $35 million domestically and a disappointing $40 million internationally.

Jeff Fowler of Sonic the Hedgehog fame is being brought on board to direct the new Pink Panther picture. Fowler could help breathe some new life into the material that could help it soar as a comedy. It will be interesting if Murphy takes on the lead role because Murphy was actually Steve Martin’s co-star in the modest hit comedy, Bowfinger, back in 1999. Could Murphy still be a big box-office draw and get people into theaters these days? Well, that’s the big question mark hanging over the upcoming Pink Panther reboot.

There have been reports that the cartoon character of the Pink Panther will be a bigger part of the action in the new movie and that Murphy’s character will be the only one who gets to see the animated Pink Panther within the movie. That is a potential fact at this time and could work to the film’s advantage if it happens since previous films have just showcased the cartoon Pink Panther during the movies’ credit sequences.

Eddie Murphy has Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley coming soon to Netflix which should most likely launch him back into the limelight. That may help MGM determine if they are definitely going to make the upcoming Pink Panther movie a theatrical release. It seems given Fowler’s involvement that it will be for the big screen although the tepid box-office of Steve Martin’s last outing as Inspector Jacques Clouseau was a bit disappointing. Still, that was about 14 years ago and this is a Pink Panther for a new generation.

Leave your thoughts on the possibility of Eddie Murphy playing in The Pink Panther reboot below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more movie news can visit our Movie News Page, our Movie News Twitter Page, and our Movie News Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Feedly, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, Telegram, and Flipboard. This news was brought to our attention by Deadline.