Eddie Murphy‘s comeback continues. Having returned to the screen over the last few years with starring roles in Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America, the actor and stand-up star is now set to produce and star in a holiday comedy titled Candy Cane Lane for Amazon.
Murphy will produce the film alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, which will mark the seventh collaboration between the two. They previously worked together on Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, and Bowfinger.
Reginald Hudlin (House Party) will direct the film from a spec script penned by Kelly Younger and inspired by her childhood holiday experiences.
Plot details are under wraps, but filming will be taking place this winter in Los Angeles.
Having already worked with Murphy on Coming 2 America, Amazon signed him to a first-look deal that was formalised last year. This is the first project to stem from that agreement. There haven’t been many films added to the Christmas Canon since 2003’s Elf, so Amazon will be hoping Candy Cane Lane can break that mold and get this first-look deal off to a great start.
“The holiday season is my favorite time of year — just ask my family about my nine-hour Christmas playlist!” Hudlin said in a statement. “I’m excited to be working again with Eddie Murphy, Brian Grazer, and Amazon.”
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, added: “As we know firsthand with our hit Coming 2 America, Eddie is someone who brings global audiences together, and we can’t wait to make it happen again! We look forward to seeing the multi-talented Reggie Hudlin take the helm in bringing this future holiday classic to life!”
Murphy’s only other project in development right now is Kenya Barris‘ ensemble comedy You People, which was co-written with Jonah Hill.
Despite Murphy’s Amazon deal, that film will actually be released on Netflix – Murphy had already signed on to shoot it alongside names such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Duchovny, and Deon Cole. That will arrive sometime this year.
#Peace.Love.CandyCaneLane
