You might think that Eddie Murphy would be able to retire from performing animated characters for life off the money he made giving voice to Shrek’s Donkey. But he’s clearly happy to step back into the booth for another run, signing on to voice Hong Kong Phooey.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your feelings towards other films using the technique), this will not be a simple ‘toon, but instead work as a live-action/animated hybrid like (shudder) the Chipmunks outings and (double shudder) Yogi Bear.
The basic plot, for those too young to remember the ‘70s series or who have never seen repeats, finds regular dog Penry stumbling into a mystical ceremony and being granted the power to walk upright and speak, plus a handy set of kung fu skills that are honed by a master. He forges a career as a superhero, hiding behind the guise of a humble, stumbling janitor. Oh, and he has a snarky sidekick cat, Spot.
“We could not be happier that Eddie Murphy will star as Phooey,” Alcon Entertainment’s Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove said in a statement picked up by Deadline. “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.”
Alex Zamm, whose work has thus far been mostly relegated to straight-to-video sequels, is graduating to the big screen for the film.