Emmy and Golden Globe winner Eddie Murphy is in talks to star in a new Pink Panther movie, according to sources familiar with the project. The film is currently in early development at MGM, which is now owned by Amazon.

The Pink Panther franchise, created by Blake Edwards for MGM, is a beloved comedy-mystery series that follows the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in his investigations. Over the years, it has included 11 films, as well as various TV series and specials.

The upcoming movie will be directed by Jeff Fowler, known for his work on "Sonic the Hedgehog," with the screenplay written by Chris Bremner. Producers on board include Dan Lin, Julie Andrews, Larry Mirisch, and Jonathan Eirich. Murphy is expected to take on the role of Clouseau, a character originally played by Peter Sellers in the 1960s and later portrayed by Steve Martin in the early 2000s. According to a source close to Murphy, the actor sees this project as a natural fit, as he has always admired the comedic performances of Sellers.

Murphy has been involved in several recent projects, including Kenya Barris' directorial debut, "You People," which garnered significant attention on Netflix. He also reprised his role as Prince Akeem in "Coming 2 America," which he produced. Additionally, he will be starring in Prime Video's holiday comedy "Candy Cane Lane" alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, among others. Another upcoming project for Murphy is Netflix's "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley," a new installment in his popular '80s action comedy series, where he will be appearing alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Earlier this year, Murphy also signed on to the heist comedy "The Package," marking another collaboration with Amazon, which acquired the film in a significant deal. His representation includes WME, ML Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.