MURPHY DEALING HIS WAY INTO NEW SHOW-BIZ PROJECTS

Eddie Murphy, Big Producer, has some far-reaching plans for Eddie Murphy, Big Star.

In announcing a new long-term contract to develop, produce, and/or star in movies and television shows for Paramount Pictures, the wheeling-and-dealing comedian told reporters that he intends to:

--Stay funny. There’s still no deal for a “Beverly Hills Cop 3,” but Murphy doesn’t plan to drift too far from the street humor that has made him one of Hollywood’s richest stars. “I can’t go out and do (a starring role in) a serious movie and jerk my audience around like that,” assured Murphy.

--Get a little bit serious. So who could resist at least a fling at heavy drama when you’ve got all that leverage with the studio. Murphy may play a role in a screen adaptation of “Fences,” August Wilson Jr.’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning play.

--Take his television comedy into uncharted waters. “There are a lot of things I couldn’t do when I was on ‘Saturday Night Live’ that can be turned into television shows,” said Murphy without offering specifics. “There’s a lot of weirdness happening right now on TV.”

Standing on a Paramount soundstage in front of posters of his five movies, Murphy, 26, told reporters at the Tuesday gathering that he is scheduled to star in five more Paramount movies. Under the deal, which is a renegotiation of a previous contract, Murphy said he “got a raise” but declined to give any financial specifics.

The deal has no time limit, Murphy said. Under the earlier contract, Murphy made “48 HRS.,” “Trading Places,” “Beverly Hills Cop” (I and II), and “The Golden Child.” Only the last of those films was a major disappointment, and the movies, according to Paramount, have grossed a phenomenal total of $632 million in the United States.

Murphy said that the new contract was not a result of any “studio bidding wars.”

“I’ve been with Paramount since ’48 HRS.,’ and I’ve always had a very strong working and personal relationship with them,” he said.

“If I was on the open market, I could probably make more money, but now you have a sense about the studio caring about you because they have a long-term relationship with you.”

Currently under development is a film tentatively titled “Quest,” featuring Murphy and Arsenio Hall, a member of what Murphy calls “the Black Pack”--a group of comedians that includes Robert Townsend, Paul Mooney and Keenen Wayans. The film, slated to begin production in January, follows an African prince on his search for a bride. Murphy, who is co-writing the script with Hall, Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, said he will be playing at least five characters and will work on the sound track.

“Fences,” a drama about a former baseball player who tries to dissuade his son from becoming an athlete, would be made under the aegis of Eddie Murphy Productions Inc. Murphy hopes to play the son; he said he doesn’t want the lead role.

With regard to his attitude about serious roles, Murphy said: “I’d much rather ease into something like that slowly.”

Without being specific about his company’s television plans, Murphy said he has ideas in development for sitcoms and an animated series.

The new Paramount deal also will include films that are not specific vehicles for Murphy. “If somebody came to me with a great idea for a movie and I wasn’t the star in the picture, you know, (and) it was a real nice character, I’d do it in a second.

“I’m not just all about making Eddie movies,” Murphy said.