Eddie Murphy To Play A Retired Superspy In Original Comedy Movie Blue Falcon

We don't know about you, but there was just something about seeing Eddie Murphy back on laugh-out-loud funny form in last year's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F that felt right. Sure, Murphy's put in solid work in the likes of You People and Candy Cane Lane in recent years, but his return to the role of Axel Foley was a glowing reminder that the legendary funnyman still has it in him to lead and carry a big comedy star vehicle. And Sony clearly got the memo, as Murphy has been tapped to lead Blue Falcon, an original comedy joint hailing from London Has Fallen writer Chad St. John.

Per Deadline's reporting, Murphy is poised to take on the role of a retired superspy in St. John's film, with the rub being that his character will come face to face with an old rival while trying to build bridges at his estranged son's destination wedding. As concepts go, it's a solid starting point for Murphy to flex both his action and comic chops, and the elevator pitch certainly leaves plenty of room for some familial drama and some good ol' 'screen icon showing they've still got it while low-key ruminating on their place and priorities in a changing world at an ever-advancing age'. Described tentatively as a 'two-hander', it remains to be seen at this point who the second hand in the equation opposite Murphy will be, but they'll certainly have a lot to live up to.

For St. John, whose long-gestating Motor City script has just wrapped filming as an Alan Ritchson led feature, Blue Falcon offers a chance for a change of pace from the more po-faced thrillers that have been his bread and butter thus far. And for Murphy, whose horizon is currently dotted with Shrek 5, a starring role as Inspector Clouseau in Jeff Fowler's upcoming Pink Panther animated reboot, and Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson co-starrer The Pickup, this project is just the latest in an increasingly eye-catching line-up of future films. Although, we must say, at this stage we are wondering how Dog Wonder Dynomutt and the blue supersuit will factor into the equation. Hmm...