Sonic the Hedgehog’s Jeff Fowler to Helm New Pink Panther Movie

Sonic the Hedgehog’s Jeff Fowler to helm new Pink Panther movie

After breaking out in his feature directorial debut with the Ben Schwartz-led Sonic the Hedgehog adaptation and helping develop the sequel, Jeff Fowler has found another major project as MGM has tapped him to helm a new Pink Panther film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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The new film, which is being penned by Bad Boys for Life co-writer Chris Bremner, will shift the story’s perspective from bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the central character in all of the previous films, to the titular feline, who appeared in the opening credits for the Peter Sellers and Steve Martin-led outings and was the front of multiple cartoon series in the decades since. Though the exact details are currently unclear for the story, sources report that the film will focus on a smooth inspector who has the titular character as an imaginary friend after a traumatic event and will be a live-action/CGI hybrid production.

“Popular the world over, the legacy of the iconic Pink Panther has endured for more than 50 years and continues to be discovered by new generations,” Michael De Luca, MGM Film Group chairman, and Pamela Abdy, MGM Film Group president, said in a statement. “We are so happy to come together with Jeff, Chris, Larry, Julie, Dan, Jonathan, Walter and Ryan to bring one of MGM’s most well-loved franchise back to the big screen and in a way audience have never seen before.”

The film is set to be produced by Rideback, the Dan Line and Jonathan Eirich-ran banner behind the Sherlock Holmes franchise and LEGO series, alongside Lawrence Mirisch and Julie Andrews, who was previously married to the co-creator of the Pink Panther film franchise and the co-writer/director of all but one 20th century outing, while original executive producer Walter Mirisch will return to the same position alongside Ryan Halprin of Rideback.

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MGM first announced development on a new Pink Panther film in 2014 with David Silverman (The Simpsons) attached to direct, though after years of failed development it appears that initial attempt fell through, aside from the concept of shifting the perspective to the titular character.

(Photo Credit: Lia Toby/WireImage)

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