It was a classic Jerry Lewis comedy. Then it was remade – and franchised – by Eddie Murphy. But now Lewis is back to claim his creation.
Yes, The Nutty Professor is going all cartoony. The Weinstein Company will produce a direct-to-DVD version with Lewis lending his tonsil talents to his old role and at least one other part.
It only seems fair, since he wrote, directed, starred in and produced the original in 1963. With the rights having reverted back to him, he was free to shop a version around the studios. Evan Spiliotopoulos is scribbling the new ‘toon version, which will see a younger, modern-day version of the story, focused on the grandson of the original Prof (Lewis’ Julius Kelp) cooking up a similar tonic and creating a cool but dangerous alter ego.