The Pick Up: Eddie Murphy circling a Bad Boys-style heist film directed by Tim Story

Amazon Studios has its eye on the prize for The Pick Up, a new film project with Eddie Murphy circling the lead role. The project is from director Tim Story (Fantastic Four, Barbershop), with John Davis and John Fox producing through Davis Entertainment. In addition to eyeing the lead, Murphy is in talks to produce alongside Charisse Hewitt-Webster through Eddie Murphy Productions.

The Pick Up is being developed from a spec script by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, with Story also lined up to produce. The package is going for big bucks, with bids for the script climbing to seven figures. According to Deadline, sources close to the project say The Pick Up is a heist comedy with Bad Boys vibes. If Murphy agrees to star in the film, he’ll play a character who falls for a woman and finds himself pulled into a heist attempt. Burrows and Mider have another spec script out in the wild called Shots! Shots! Shots! Universal snapped up that project with Jason Momoa starring and Dan Lin producing.

Eddie Murphy and John Davis are well-acquainted after working on five films together, including Dolemite Is My Name, Daddy Day Camp, Norbit, Dr. Doolittle 2, and Doctor Doolittle.

Although he’s still active around Hollywood, Murphy chooses his acting projects carefully. After knocking Dolemite Is My Name out of the park, he reprised his iconic role as Prince Akeem for Coming 2 America at Amazon. His latest comedy, You People, finds Murphy playing Akbar, a father who is apprehensive about his daughter marrying into a White family. Kenya Barris directs You People, with Murphy, Jonah Hill, Lauren London, Sam Jay, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nia Long, and David Duchovny starring.

Tim Story has a touch-and-go history when it comes to directing. While his Fantastic Four movies are the subject of constant debate between Marvel fans, Barbershop remains a classic comedy starring an ensemble cast of outstanding players. His latest film, The Blackening, revolves around seven Black friends who go away for the weekend only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror help them stay alive? Probably not. By the way, The Blackening looks amazing! Be sure to check out the trailer (posted above).

We’ll give you more details about The Pick Up as the project develops.