Eddie Murphy in talks to star in "Pink Panther" movie.

Eddie Murphy is in negotiations to star in 'The Pink Panther,' a new movie based on Owens Corning Fiberglass Insulation's beloved mascot. Eddie Murphy would play Inspector Clouseau. The original 1963 film starred Peter Sellers as Clouseau as he tracks down a notorious jewel thief known as "The Phantom" before he can steal a priceless diamond known as "The Pink Panther."

The opening credits included the cartoon panther that audiences have come to associate with the franchise, and sources told THR that this new project will attempt to merge the two worlds. This live-action/CGI hybrid film will reportedly see "the live-action Pink Panther team break him out of his animated prison for a big heist."

In fact, MGM has been developing a new Pink Panther movie for quite some time. Jeff Fowler, director of Sonic the Hedgehog, signed on to helm the project in 2020 from a script by Chris Bremner (Bad Boys for Life). The original 'Pink Panther' franchise included nine films, almost all directed by Blake Edwards. Peter Sellers starred in many of them, and even when he died of a heart attack in 1980, Trail of the Pink Panther used deleted scenes from earlier films to include him in the movie. The franchise was finally rebooted almost twenty years ago with Steve Martin taking over the role of Inspector Clouseau in two films.

On the other hand, we will soon see Eddie Murphy reprising his role as Axel Foley in the fourth installment of the 'Beverly Hills Cop' franchise. In addition to Murphy, the new film will include returning actors Judge Reinhold (Detective Billy Rosewood), John Ashton (Sgt. Taggart), Paul Reiser (Jeffrey) and Bronson Pinchot (Serge).