Eddie Murphy to star in Peacock drama series The Chairman

NBCUniversal-owned streamer Peacock is developing a drama series starring Hollywood actor Eddie Murphy, marking his first role in a scripted TV show.

Eddie Murphy

David Shankbone via CC

Produced by 101 Studios and Universal Television, The Chairman comes from Matthew Weiner, the showrunner and creator of Mad Men and exec producer and writer on The Sopranos.

It’s also the first project between NBCUniversal, 101 Studios’ CEO David Glasser (Mobland, Yellowstone, Landman) and their longtime collaborator Chris McCarthy as part of his overall deal with NBCU.

Glasser and 101 Studios began a first-look film and television deal at NBCU in January this year.

The Chairman is Murphy’s first television series regular role since he left NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1984. The actor will also exec produce. No details of the drama’s plot have been revealed yet.

Over his career, Murphy has starred in over 40 films. While never having acted in a drama series before, he did create adult animated series The PJs for Fox and CBS sitcom The Royal Family in the 1990s.