The legendary actor Eddie Murphy is returning to the screen in an exciting new role. The comedian recently shared that he will appear in an upcoming Pink Panther film, taking on a key character.

"I'm going to be Inspector Clouseau in the next Pink Panther," Murphy casually revealed during a July 28 appearance on the Today show. "That's right — I'm the new Clouseau."

Co-anchor Al Roker asked whether he would play the iconic role with a classic French accent. Murphy replied, "Maybe. He’s definitely French, but he could also have Haitian roots. One thing I’ll say — he’s Black. Without a doubt, he's Black."

In May 2023, reports indicated that Murphy was in discussions for a Pink Panther reboot directed by Jeff Fowler of Sonic the Hedgehog fame, though that version reportedly faced development challenges. Specifics about the latest iteration Murphy mentioned are still under wraps, leaving fans to wait for more details.

The original Pink Panther debuted in 1963. The bumbling yet essential Inspector Clouseau was originally portrayed by Peter Sellers, who reprised the role in five sequels. After Sellers' death in 1980, Steve Martin took over the role for two follow-ups in the 2000s — 2006's The Pink Panther and its 2009 sequel, The Pink Panther 2.

Meanwhile, Murphy is also busy with Shrek 5, scheduled for a Christmas release next year. He also stars in the action comedy The Pickup, arriving on Prime Video on August 6.