Eddie Murphy Will Voice Hong Kong Phooey

It was publicized some time ago that Warner Bros and Alcon Entertainment would be producing the latest cinematic adaptation of a popular Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, Hong Kong Phooey (I, for one, would much rather see a movie about Blue Falcon and Dynomutt...or Captain Caveman).  However CEO's Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove have just announced that Eddie Murphy will lend his voice to Penry, the humble janitor who transforms into the clumsy Kung-Fu master, Hong Kong Phooey.

There is still no official word on the film's plot, but it should follow pretty closely to the original series where the "number one super guy" takes to the streets with his Kung-Fu manual, green, two-seater Phooeymobile, and trusty sidekick Spot.  It will be interesting to see how the characters of Sergeant Flint and Rosemary the telephone operator will be incorporated since it will be a live action adaptation in similar fashion to Yogi Bear and Garfield...especially since Rosemary has the hots for the crime fighting dog.

Eddie Murphy seems like an excellent choice after his voice work as Mushu the dragon in Mulan, and (of course) Donkey from the Shrek series.  The original Hong Kong Phooey (1974) was voiced by Scatman Crothers who added a raspy, jazzy, swagger to the character.  Murphy will probably contribute his own talented spin on Hong Kong Phooey - or make him sound something like Thurgoode from The PJs.  In any case, I can't wait to hear him back in the recording booth.

Alex Zamm will direct while Alcon's Johnson and Kosove will produce along with Jay Stern and Brett Ratner - Murphy's next film is Ratner's, Tower Heist, with Ben Stiller.  In a statement to Deadline.com, Johnson and Kosove add, "we could not be happier that Eddie Murphy will star as Phooey...there is no overstating his contributions to cinema and to such enduring stars of family entertainments such as Shrek and Dr. Doolittle.  We look forward to watching him re-imagine yet another classic character."