Inspector Clouseau is back and ready to stumble through another mystery as Eddie Murphy is reportedly in talks to star in a reboot of the beloved crime comedyThe Pink Panther. Murphy would be the latest in a list of big stars to play the role over the many decades, and it certainly seems like his style.
The announcement thatThe Pink Pantherwill return to the big screencame in 2020, with little other information given. But the main gossip suggested that it will be a CG/live-action hybrid in the style of the recent and shockingly successfulSonic the Hedgehogfilms. That already sets it apart from previous movies in creator Blake Edwards’Pink Pantherfranchise, which typically centered on a bumbling detective attempting to solve the theft of a priceless jewel called the Pink Panther (named due to a flaw at its center said to resemble a leaping pink panther). However, the Panther was also represented by a cartoon pink feline during the various films' opening and closing credits. While the jewel may play a role in the story this time, the title is seemingly a bit more literal.
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This news is appropriate, asThe Hollywood Reporter’s newly-reported info on the project now confirms thatSonic the Hedgehogdirector Jeff Fowler will helmThe Pink Panther. Given his relatively short yet dense experience directing theSonicfilms, he’s probably the perfect choice given the direction this reboot plans go. The film, which is currently in the “deep development stages,” will see Murphy’s Inspector Clouseau team up with a CGI Pink Panther based on the aforementioned credits sequences in a buddy cop premise. As happy as some may be to hear about the revival of such a beloved classic comedy franchise, the new take on the formula may sour a few on the idea.
The new film may be taking inspiration from a series of cartoon shorts in the ’60s, which came about after the animations in the movie credits gained unexpected popularity. It may also follow in the footsteps of a 1990s full cartoon series that followed the Pink Panther in his various misadventures. Given the reportedbuddy cop movie natureof the upcoming reboot, it will likely feel more like the ’90s version, which gave the traditionally mute character a snarky American-accented voice (despite the franchise’s typically Euro-centric settings). That tracks for a project featuring Murphy, whose roles like Donkey in theShrekmovies and energetic live-action roles likeThe Nutty Professormake him a perfect partner for a cartoon.
The appeal of the originalPink Panthermovies came from Inspector Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers in the ’60s and ’70s. The franchise was later rebooted with eventualOnly Murders in the Buildingstar Steve Martinin the 2000s. Each film would introduce a new mystery for him to solve, which he often did by accident as he stumbled through the investigation while trying to act like he meant to do that. As previously mentioned, the Pink Panther name referred to a jewel at the center of a heist, even if the jewel itself often didn’t even feature in several of the franchise’s movies. But the name stuck, and audiences knew to expect some Sellers comedy magic when they saw that title.
It would be understandable that some fans of Edwards and Sellers' originalPink Panthermovies may be put off by turning this franchise into a CG/live-action hybridwacky buddy cop filmin the vein ofSonic the Hedgehog. But director Fowler has proven he knows what he’s doing with this premise. So if anybody can make the most out of this unexpected change, it’s probably him. Plus, it will be interesting to see Murphy interacting with a cartoon instead of being one for once.
