It's been 15 years since his iconic sitcom went off the air ... but Martin Lawrence tells TMZ ... HE MIGHT BE BACK ON TV!!!

Martin and his family were leaving Boa Steakhouse in Hollywood last night when he told us he's decided to take a break from the world of movies ... but when it comes to the small screen, Lawrence said, "I may be back to TV soon."

Martin didn't give up any details about his TV plans ... but it MAY have something to do with a sitcom he was reportedly working on earlier this year.

According to reports, Martin had struck a deal to get the show on CBS, but the network pulled the plug back in May.

Now, it seems like there may still be life in the project ... unless Martin has a whole NEW SHOW up his sleeve. Hopefully it involves Gina.

Martin Lawrence has issued a statement on the death of his friend Michael Clarke Duncan ... telling TMZ he had the privilege of working with the big man WAY before MCD became an actor.

Lawrence tells us, "From the days of him doing security on the 'Martin' show, to us working together on 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' I enjoyed working with him.  He will be missed."

Martin adds, "My condolences go out to his family and loved ones."

FYI -- Duncan was a bigtime private security guard in Hollywood before he made it big as an actor ... working for stars like Will Smith, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx and Christopher Wallace (aka Biggie Smalls).

Wanna take a rinse in a really over the top pink bathroom? Or play pool in a super gaudy game room? Well, if you've got $200k per month to blow, you can rent Martin Lawrence's Beverly Hills mansion.

The "Martin" actor -- who just filed for divorce back in April -- is renting out his monstrous 13,900 square-foot estate ... which looks more like an ostentatious Vegas resort than a house.

The mansion -- located in the ultra-private Beverly Park community in Bev Hills -- boasts 7 bedrooms, 9.5 baths, a wine room, home gym and a state-of-the-art movie theater with concession stand so you can watch hours of "Big Momma's House" and nosh on popcorn at the same time.

It's unclear why Martin doesn't wanna live in his mega-pad -- perhaps it just doesn't have that bachelor feel.

Martin Lawrence has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned.

Martin filed the docs in L.A. County Superior Court -- citing "irreconcilable differences."

Martin and his wife Shamicka got married on July 10, 2010 -- and separated just last week on April 24th. Martin filed for divorce the very next day.

The couple has two children -- 11-year-old Iyanna and 9-year-old Amara Trinity. Martin wants joint physical/legal custody.

Oh yeah -- There IS a prenup.

Martin and his wife have released a joint statement, claiming, "Out of love and respect for one another, we will continue to remain friends and raise our two beautiful daughters together."

Jamie Foxx and Tyler Perry are being sued for $1 million each by a prisoner -- who claims the duo jacked his idea for a groan-worthy new comedy ... starring Foxx, Perry, and Martin Lawrence ... all dressed as women.

In case you haven't heard ... the project is called "Skank Robbers" -- a wacky action comedy about two lady bank robbers ... with Lawrence's Sheneneh character from "Martin," Foxx's Wanda from "In Living Color," and according to reports ... Tyler Perry's Madea ... from every bad movie you've seen. The project is reportedly in development.

Enter Shamont Lyle Sapp -- who, coincidentally, says he's serving time in Oklahoma for 10 bank robberies -- he's filed a lawsuit, claiming he gave Foxx and Perry the idea for the project ... and they cut him out of the action.

According to the docs, Shamont had the idea to unite the three characters in one film -- but his version wasn't a comedy about bank robbers ... it was a drama about a mental hospital.

The lawsuit encapsulates Sapp's idea -- "A male white mental patient takes Madea hostage ... He deals with phone calls from the negotiators, as Madea actually pleads for her life in a very sad tear-jerking way ... Her pleas are to be very sad. No jokes at all."

Sounds like a blast. Shamont is also suing Fox Broadcasting and producer David Zuckerman for a total of $4 million in damages. Calls to Foxx and Perry's camps were not returned.

Looks like a bogus suit ... Foxx and Martin did a "Skank Robbers"  sketch for the BET Awards in 2009 ... which aired a month before Sapp even pitched his idea to Perry (below).

Ryan Seacrest may have some stiff competition in the big tipper department.

TMZ spies caught Martin Lawrence dining with two members of his posse at Musashi Japanese restaurant in Simi Valley, CA -- where he apparently dropped $120 dollars on a $140 bill. Watch your back, Seacrest!