Eddie Murphy, the voice behind four “Shrek” films-worth of the crass character Donkey, will continue the sass as Hong Kong Phooey in a film version of the 1970s Hanna-Barbera animated series, TheWrap has confirmed.
“Tooth Fairy 2” director Alex Zamm will be taking on the story about a mild-mannered dog-turned-crime-fighter who finds himself granted the power to walk on his hind legs, talk, and do kung fu.
Voiced by Scatman Crothers in the '70s television classic, the new "Phooey" will be part live-action, part animation feature.
“We could not be happier that Eddie Murphy will star as Phooey," producers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said in a statement. "There is no overstating his contributions to cinema, and to such enduring stars of family entertainments such as ‘Shrek’ and ‘Dr. Doolittle.’"
Murphy is no stranger to Chinese martial arts — the 50-year-old comedian also played the fiery red dragon Mushu in Disney’s 1998 film “Mulan” — and showed off his skills in 1986's "Golden Child." (See clip below.)
Murphy’s additional projects include Universal’s “Tower Heist” with Ben Stiller and Dreamworks’ “A Thousand Words.”
