Why Original 'Naked Gun' Director Won't Watch Reboot

The Return of a Classic: "The Naked Gun" Rebooted

This weekend, fans of the wacky world of Lt. Frank Drebin and his “Police Squad” are in for a nostalgic treat as the franchise makes a long-awaited return to theaters. After 31 years, the reboot of “The Naked Gun” is set to hit screens, directed by Akiva Schaffer, known for his work on “Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping.” The film stars Oscar nominee Liam Neeson as the new face of the franchise, playing the son of the late Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character, Lt. Frank Drebin.

Despite the excitement surrounding the reboot, not everyone is thrilled with the new direction. David Zucker, the director behind the first two films in the series and a co-writer of the third, has voiced strong concerns about the remake. Zucker, also famous for directing “Airplane!” and producing the “Scary Movie” franchise, shared his disappointment with TMZ back in April. He admitted that he didn’t like the trailer and was upset that he wasn’t consulted for the reboot.

“I never saw ‘Airplane 2’ because you can’t unsee that stuff. I’m not planning on seeing the ‘Naked Gun’ remake either,” Zucker said. “I regret having seen the trailer for it.” His comments were further emphasized when he compared watching the trailer to witnessing a notorious 2007 viral video featuring two girls and a beverage container. “I can’t unsee it,” he added.

According to Zucker, he and his team submitted a script to Paramount in 2018, which they were told the studio liked. However, he was surprised to learn that the property had been greenlit for a different creative team. Once the film was in production, Zucker was offered a producer credit but declined based on the script. “I read the script and I politely told them I wasn’t going to put my name on it,” he said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. “They wanted nothing from me except my name. They assume I’m old and using a walker and I can’t do it anymore. I guess talent leaves after age 40 in Hollywood.”

Zucker also expressed doubts about the casting of Liam Neeson, stating, “Everybody thinks that they can do it, do spoof. It’s really, really specific.” Despite these concerns, the film has generated significant anticipation. In addition to Neeson, pop culture icon Pamela Anderson joins as the film’s female lead. Anderson, who is 58, received praise last year for her role in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl.”

With its mix of nostalgia and fresh talent, “The Naked Gun” is expected to draw a wide audience. The film will open nationwide on August 1, marking a new chapter for a beloved franchise. While some may question the direction of the reboot, others are eager to see how this classic will be reimagined for a new generation of fans.