While his appearance on SNL 40 was somewhat disappointing, could Eddie Murphy be looking to make a true comeback in the near future? The actor’s last foray into the world of drama was the 2006 musical Dreamgirls, for which he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Murphy famously lost the award and wasn’t too pleased about it, and after the fact he starred in a string of fairly forgettable comedies. But now a juicy role in a prestigious project may be coming Murphy’s way.

E! Online reports that Murphy is in talks to star in Precious and The Butler director Lee Daniels’s long-developing Richard Pryor biopic. The project has been in the works for years, but it finally gained serious steam last summer when Mike Epps landed the role of the legendary comedian. E! says that Murphy is now in talks to play Pryor’s father, former boxer LeRoy “Buck Carter” Pryor, and they also report that Kate Hudson has been chosen to play Pryor’s wife Jennifer Pryor.

This is a big deal for Murphy who, despite starring in some questionable films as of late, remains a comedy icon. He’s more than proven his dramatic chops, and a prime role in the Richard Pryor biopic could be the thing that puts him back on an exciting path.

Daniels himself seemed to hint at the casting yesterday with a post on Instagram, which you can see below. If Murphy and Hudson are indeed being set in the cast, it appears that Daniels is gearing up to start production on the film fairly soon. Stay tuned.