Eddie Murphy to play funk legend George Clinton in biopic

Eddie Murphy will play funk legend George Clinton in an upcoming biopic directed by Bill Condon.

The script, written by Virgil Williams, is based on Clinton’s memoir Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You?, which traces his roots in 1940s North Carolina to becoming a pioneer of funk and founding the musical collective Parliament-Funkadelic.

Murphy is set to produce the film through Eddie Murphy Productions, while Clinton is also on board as an executive producer.

It’s not the first time Condon and Murphy have joined forces, having previously worked together on 2006’s Dreamgirls – another musical drama, inspired by Motown Records and the Supremes starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson. Murphy received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.

Clinton has previously been portrayed by Wiz Khalifa on film, in 2023’s Spinning Gold. 

Parliament-Funkadelic released their last album ‘Medicaid Fraud Dog’ in 2018, marking their first new music in 38 years. Shortly after, Clinton announced his retirement from the road in 2019 and played his final UK shows in 2022 after they were delayed by the pandemic. This year, he appeared on Kamasi Washington‘s new album ‘Fearless Movement’, on the track ‘Get Lit’.

In other Eddie Murphy news, in July it was announced that Shrek 5 will be released on July 1, 2026 – just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary. Murphy is set to return, alongside other franchise leads Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz.

Eddie Murphy let slip in June that he had begun recording for Shrek 5, as well as a standalone Donkey film. “We started doing Shrek 4 or [Shrek] 5 months ago. I did this, I recorded the first act, and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up,” he shared. “Shrek is coming out, and Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. So we’re gonna do a Shrek, and we’re doing a Donkey [movie].”

Murphy’s latest film, Beverly Hill Cops: Axel F, scored a three-star review from NME: “In truth, the film isn’t quite as funny as you might hope. Murphy’s youthful cheekiness has long gone, stripping this sequel of some of its verve. But this is still an enjoyable, affable reunion: the heat is just about back on.”

The post Eddie Murphy to play funk legend George Clinton in biopic appeared first on NME.