So, is Eddie Murphy poised to make a comeback? Studio suits are certainly hoping so. With a role in Brett Ratner‘s “Tower Heist” that looks like a throwback to when Murphy actually used to be funny and with a hosting gig for next year’s Oscars in the works, everyone is hoping the funnyman is done with family film paycheck gigs and ready to do something worthy of the comic chops he once so admirably displayed. While this writer has his doubts and thinks that Murphy will just continue to chase whatever movie gives him the biggest paycheck, others are more optimistic.
At the very least, Paramount is hoping that Murphy’s Oscar hosting gig will go over well and make people want to see “A Thousand Words,” the loooong shelved comedy originally slated for a dumping ground release on January 13, 2012. Finished filming way back in 2009, the movie finds Murphy playing a guy who learns he only has 1000 words to speak before he dies. Sounds like a pretty interesting concept but with Steve Koren (”Bruce Almighty,” “Click”) writing and Brian Robbins (”Norbit,” “Meet Dave”—how the fuck is this guy still getting work?) directing, we’re not holding our breath that this will be watchable. But with a fresh date of March 23, 2012 the studio will hope some of that Murphy heat will translate to box office dollars. This will pit the Murphy movie against “Hunger Games” so yeah, good luck with that guys.
In other news, Paramount has also slated their found footage cheapie horror movie “The Devil Inside” for a January 6, 2012 release. It’s about exorcisms, stars a bunch of nobodies and was directed by someone you never heard of. Sounds great. [THR]