Eddie Murphy to Make Live-Action Drama Debut in Matthew Weiner’s ‘The Chairman’ for Peacock

Eddie Murphy is set to headline “The Chairman,” a new dramatic series in development at Peacock, created by “Mad Men” showrunner Matthew Weiner. If the project receives a green light, it will represent Murphy’s debut in a live-action scripted television series.

Specifics regarding the plot have not yet been disclosed. The series is being produced by Universal Television and 101 Studios, the latter led by “Yellowstone” executive producer David Glasser. 101 Studios operates under a first-look television and film agreement with NBCUniversal that commenced in January.

The show also holds significance as the inaugural project stemming from Chris McCarthy’s newly established deal at NBCUniversal. McCarthy, the former Paramount boss, joined the studio in a consulting capacity regarding its partnership with Glasser and 101 Studios, a arrangement initially reported in November 2025.

Both Murphy and Weiner are credited as producers on the series. While Murphy is celebrated as one of history’s most influential comedians—launching his career on “Saturday Night Live” from 1980 to 1984—his television resume has previously been limited to voice acting, most notably as a co-creator and performer on the animated series “The PJs.” His extensive filmography includes hits such as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” “Dreamgirls,” and “Dolemite Is My Name.”

Weiner, conversely, is renowned for creating and running “Mad Men,” which aired on AMC for seven seasons between 2007 and 2015 and is frequently cited as one of the finest series in television history. His previous writing and producing credits include work on “The Sopranos,” CBS’s “Becker,” and the Amazon Prime Video anthology “The Romanoffs.”