Eddie Murphy is in talks to play funk legend and Parliament/Funkadelic leader George Clinton in an upcoming biopic. Known as the Godfather of Funk, Clinton is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner who’s widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of the musical genre.
The film will reportedly chronicle Clinton’s life and legacy, from his childhood in 1940s North Carolina, to the formation of his groundbreaking bands Parliament and Funkadelic in the late 1960s, as well as his impact of the future of hip-hop and artists like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and more.
Murphy will also produce the film alongside John Davis and Catherine Davis, who will do so through their Davis Entertainment banner. The project is still in its early stages as there’s still work to be done to secure the rights with Clinton.
Once that’s completed, writers will be set up and producers will begin to shop the movie. Murphy inked a three-picture, first-look film deal with Amazon Studios last year, so they will get the first crack at it.
After making just one film between 2012 and 2018, Murphy made his screen return with 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name, which was well-liked. He’s since followed that with Coming 2 America, and is currently working with Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill on comedy You People. He’s also set to reprise his role as Alex Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4.
The Clinton biopic is still in early stages of development so it will likely be a while until we see it. But with multiple projects in the works, as well as a rumoured return to stand-up, Murphy is most certainly back after many years in the Hollywood wilderness.
#Peace.Love.GeorgeClinton
