The upcoming The Naked Gun remake aims to balance classic slapstick with modern satire, according to its writers. The original Naked Gun trilogy, starring Leslie Nielsen as clueless detective Frank Drebin, was known for satirizing police tropes with ridiculous gags and rapid-fire jokes. Now, more than three decades later, the franchise is returning with Liam Neeson in the lead.
While reimagining the absurd detective comedy for today’s audiences, the creative team behind the reboot recognized the cultural shift around the police force, and says the new film will approach the topic through the same lens as the beloved original.
In an interview with Screen Rant, writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand discussed how the satire still works and why the film doesn’t shy away from poking fun at law enforcement culture. Addressing how societal views of police have shifted since the original films, Mand admitted, “It is a very strange, hard time to be like, ‘Let’s all laugh along with the cop.’ ” Read their full comments below:
Doug Mand: It’s interesting, and obviously it is a very strange hard time to be like, “Let’s all laugh along with the cop,” but if you go back to the original Naked Gun, it’s very much built into the DNA. Frank Drebin says he’s been fired from Police Squad and he’s packing up his files and all his stuff from his desk, and he is like, “Just to think; next time I shoot someone, I could be arrested for it,” which could easily be in our movie.
Dan Gregor: It is about police violence and it’s about overaggressive cops, and they were poking fun of that then. Our feeling, honestly, is [that] we hope and sincerely believe that there’s a satire here of police culture, but also it’s also light enough that anyone can enjoy it; it’s sort of available on both sides of the aisle. There’s hopefully a Talladega Nights to this, [where] you either think that that culture is silly and you’re laughing a little at it, or you think that it’s great and you’re laughing with it. And both those things can be true.
Doug Mand: The point the whole time was never to be like, “We’re making a statement.” This is not the movie to do that. We’re making observations over the last 30 years of movies that have not been spoofed, and that’s where we’re coming from.
What This Means For The Naked Gun
The Remake Aims To Be Relevant Without Being Controversial
While the subject matter may seem more loaded in 2025 than it did in 1988, the writers insist that The Naked Gun reboot is not made to make a bold political statement. Instead, the film is focused on satirizing the last 30 years of cop movies that haven’t been spoofed, which means the satire stems more from clichés than real-life events.
Their comments make it clear that the film isn’t ignoring the realities of modern police; rather, it’s confronting them with the same absurdity and wit that made the original a cult classic. By building on Drebin’s legacy as a buffoon rather than a hero, the film can offer a self-aware take that mocks the genre instead of glorifying it.
With humor that acknowledges problematic behavior without taking itself too seriously, The Naked Gun has a chance to appeal to a wider audience. Whether audiences come for slapstick or satire, it appears the film is aiming for a tone that welcomes everyone without sacrificing its comedic punch.
Our Take On The Writers’ Comments
The Naked Gun’s Smart Approach To Cop Satire Could Actually Work
While some might think reviving The Naked Gun in 2025 is risky, this approach seems thoughtful. By doubling down on parody and avoiding explicit messaging, the remake can still land laughs without alienating audiences. Frank Drebin has always been a parody of the serious action cop, and in a time when audiences are more aware of the flaws in that image, this return could be the lightheartedness needed today.
The key to success for the film will be whether they manage to execute the tone successfully. If the film sticks to its absurdist roots while subtly pointing out the outdated tropes of cop movies, it could pull off a surprisingly smart act.
