Eddie Murphy Reportedly Negotiating $70 Million Comedy Special Deal with Netflix

Could Eddie Murphy be returning to stand-up comedy? According to a new report from TMZ, the legendary comedian is currently negotiating a deal with Netflix that would put him back on stage in an “undisclosed number of comedy specials.” While no specific number was mentioned, TMZ reports that Murphy would likely be paid around $70 million for the deal, a figure that is in line with Netflix paydays for comedy greats like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. Decider has reached out to Netflix for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Sources close to Murphy tell TMZ that the comedian is ready to return to stand-up, particularly if it involves a collaboration with Netflix. They claim that Murphy is “locked in talks with the streaming giant for an undisclosed number of comedy specials” in a deal that would earn him roughly $70 million. TMZ reports that this number is comparable with the deals offered to Dave Chappelle ($60 million for three stand-up specials) and Chris Rock ($40 million for two specials) in recent years. If the deal goes through, the specials produced would be Murphy’s first since Raw, his iconic 1987 show.

In the new season of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, out today, Murphy got candid about his desire to return to stand-up comedy. “You know that you not doing stand-up drives people crazy. You know that, right?” asked Seinfeld. Murphy said that the last time he saw Don Rickles, “maybe a month or two before he passed away,” the legend begged him to return to the stage. “I’m going to do it again,” he promised. “Everything has to be right. I’ve got to get up there and start working out. I have to get up and work — the only way you can get, like, an act is I gotta go to the clubs and work out. I’m gonna do that again.”

Seinfeld then suggested that he could have his “own club,” and Murphy countered with a not-so-helpful suggestion. “You should buy the Comic Strip, and I’ll come work out there,” he said. “If you want to do that, I’ll do it,” replied Seinfeld. “I’ll call it, ‘Jerry Seinfeld’s Comic Strip.'”

Murphy’s episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, “Eddie Murphy: I Just Wanted to Kill,” is now available to stream on Netflix.

Watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee "Eddie Murphy: I Just Wanted to Kill" on Netflix