# Eddie Murphy to lead reboot of “Pink Panther” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [July 30, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527 "2025-07-30T20:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/41 "2025-07-31T23:48:02Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I’m sure he had the talent 30 years ago but I don’t recall seeing Eddie Murphy in anything this century that I enjoyed. Besides Shrek that is. I quite enjoyed the time he hosted SNL a few years ago. He showed he can still be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/42 "2025-08-01T02:21:12Z")
Maybe they can make yet another _Simpsons_ joke into reality and call it _The Return of the Pink Panther Returns._ ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/43 "2025-08-01T02:56:01Z")
Wiki has an interesting chart showing Rotten Tomatoes ratings of the various Pink Panther movies. There were 11 in all, though the last 2 were reboots. Of the first 6, 5 were with Peter Sellers with Blake Edwards and ratings ranged from 78%-93%. The other one starred Alan Arkin and another director and scored 0%. After that came a film with outtake footage of Peter Sellers which received a 25% rating. The remaining 4 had different actors (2 by Steve Martin) whose quality ranged from 6-29%. So it’s a good property, but playing the Cousteau character is challenging if you’re not Peter Sellers. > **[The Pink Panther](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pink_Panther)** > > The Pink Panther is an American media franchise primarily focusing on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The franchise began with the release of the film The Pink Panther in 1963. The role of Clouseau was originated by and is most closely associated with Peter Sellers. Most of the films were written and directed by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. Elements and characters inspired by the films were adap... ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/44 "2025-08-01T07:15:33Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > So it’s a good property, but playing the Cousteau character is challenging if you’re not Peter Sellers. “I thought you said your shark did not bite!” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/45 "2025-08-01T07:42:55Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > So it’s a good property, but playing the Cousteau character is challenging if you’re not Peter Sellers. I agree, except that I think “challenging” is an understatement. The problem with any remake of _Pink Panther_ is that Peter Sellers was a comedic genius whose talents were so skillfully deployed in that franchise that his character is uniquely and indelibly associated with Inspector Clouseau. Replacing Sellers is not just “challenging”, I’d say it was well-nigh impossible. Even Herbert Lom as Clouseau’s long-suffering Chief Inspector was so perfectly cast that he’d be hard to replace, but Sellers’s Clouseau I think is beyond reach. It’s hard to believe that a studio is pouring serious money into such a doomed venture. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/46 "2025-08-01T08:04:14Z")
It seems to me that Eddie Murphy does best in original things. _Trading Places_ and _Coming to America_ are great examples. Remakes/reboots such as _Doctor Doolittle_ and _The Nutty Professor_, and films where Murphy plays a few characters (_Coming to America_ excepted) are, I feel, pretty sad. The Pink Panther films with Sellers were great. They weren’t so great without him. I don’t think this reboot, especially given Murphy’s track record with remakes/reboots, will be very good. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/47 "2025-08-01T12:23:45Z")
A perfect analysis there, dear pup. This is beyond incomprehensible from a dramatic or from a financial perspective. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/48 "2025-08-01T12:30:44Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > So it’s a good property, but playing the Cousteau character is challenging if you’re not Peter Sellers. Or you don’t have a submersible or scuba tank. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/49 "2025-08-01T12:42:08Z")
My spell check did the same thing to me. But I noticed in time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/50 "2025-08-01T12:46:22Z")
The original movie came out over 60 years ago, who is going to see this because it’s a Pink Panther movie? Remakes for the sake of remakes. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/51 "2025-08-01T16:41:29Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > The original movie came out over 60 years ago, who is going to see this because it’s a Pink Panther movie? Someone who likes ethnic stereotypes and scenarios where the imbecile gets the hot girl at the end. That’s a formula for success in 2025 America. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/52 "2025-08-01T20:16:39Z")
_The Undersea World of Jaques Clouseau_ has the potential to be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/53 "2025-08-01T20:27:43Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The Pink Panther films with Sellers were great. I’ve always thought the Peter Sellers versions varied from _goodish_ to _okayish_ at best. Even when I was twelve. But then I’m not big on bumbling slapstick - I’d much rather watch **Being There** or even very slight fare like **The Bobo** (at least that one had a great flamenco scene). I’ve never quite understood the constant attempt to resurrect this franchise which as already cited has failed over and over. Call me cynical but I’m about 98.97% sure this will be a colossal failure. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/54 "2025-08-01T20:56:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s hard to believe that a studio is pouring serious money into such a doomed venture. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > This is beyond incomprehensible from a dramatic or from a financial perspective. Referring to my thinking upthread… > [@snowthx](#): > > Man, are they just totally out of new ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/55 "2025-08-04T22:38:06Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Plus some of the funniest dialoge ever e.g. Does your dog bite? [Hmmm.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/23) 😄 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/56 "2025-08-04T23:53:41Z")
Myself, saw all the Edwards/Sellers originals, the last 3 as they were released, the first two on TV. Teen/young adult JRD and his siblings loved the material. Sellers and Edwards really knew how to do this. And espcially the Kato scenes always left us out of breath. Never felt the need though to even look at any of the others, including the cut-and-paste posthumous one. These were movies of their time, any succesful reboot needs to transform them for ours AND give us a Clouseau worthy of Sellers. Has Murphy what it takes? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/57 "2025-08-05T19:10:15Z")
Not sure how well Murphy can pull off bumbling. The closest it could probably do is Eddie doing his slick fast talking guy(or at least someone who thinks he is) while being completely unaware of the chaos he’s causing in the background(and remains so). A lot of minor prop shifting that leads to hilarious disasters in the background. Even that may be difficult for the filmmakers to pull off. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527/58 "2025-08-05T19:22:01Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > Not sure how well Murphy can pull off bumbling. They could always take the emphasis off “bumbling,” as they did when Murphy reprised Jerry Lewis’s “Nutty Professor” character. (Per Wikipedia, Lewis’s Julius F. Kelp was “awkward, shy and accident-prone but polite, intelligent and lively,” whereas Murphy’s Sherman Klump was “jolly and kind-hearted” but had “occasional clumsy accidents due to his obesity.”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-murphy-to-lead-reboot-of-pink-panther/1021527.md?page=2)