David Zucker, who directed 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad and 1991’s The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, isn’t interested in seeing the 2025 reboot starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., who follows in his father’s footsteps to solve a murder case to save Police Squad. Released in theaters on August 1, the 2025 remake is directed by Akiva Schaffer.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Zucker claimed that he’s not going to watch the 2025 reboot due to its lack of originality. Clarifying that he is “not leading a boycott” and voicing no ill will toward the film’s cast and crew, the filmmaker stressed that he simply couldn’t find “any reason to see it,” believing that a reboot around the same idea was unnecessary. Read his comment below:
I don’t see any reason to see it… I don’t have anything against Liam Neeson. I think he’s a wonderful actor. He is a fine actor, but generally for spoof, you don’t really need that. Plus, the way I approach movies is not to do the same thing over again. I didn’t even want to do ‘Naked Gun 3.’ And so, somebody else directed it. I produced it while I was writing another movie.
I read things where it says, ‘David Zucker is leading a boycott.’ I’m not leading a [boycott] – all I said was that I have no interest in seeing it.
What This Means For The Naked Gun Reboot
In the same interview, Zucker shared that he would’ve done “something new” with a fourth entry instead of using the same premise in his original movie. While he was asked to consult on the goofy Naked Gun remake, he shared that “there’s nothing” he could do because he simply wouldn’t approach the project the same way. The filmmaker also expressed that he felt “the whole thing is wrong” by copying his original idea.
He further explained that before the 2025 movie was greenlit by Paramount, he was working on a potential Naked Gun 4 to feature the son of Frank Drebin in a Mission: Impossible-style international spy thriller, which would bring new elements to the franchise.
On the other hand, The Naked Gun (in theaters now) has been hailed as the best movie from the franchise since Zucker’s 1988 original by many. With a 90% critical Rotten Tomatoes score from over 200 reviews, the movie has successfully entertained critics and fans alike and is generally considered a successful iteration that provides a modern update to the franchise.
Our Take On The Naked Gun Reboot
In the same interview, Zucker also voiced concerns about the industry’s growing trend of capitalizing on existing ideas rather than investing in experimentation and innovation. His remarks are valid, given the rise of remakes in recent years. On the other hand, collective nostalgia and economic hardship have also contributed to the change in the industry.
The Naked Gun remake does share many parallels with its 1988 original. From the premise of a bumbling detective working on a serious case to the humorous approach to narrative, the new iteration maintains the essence of what made the classic timeless while adding some modern elements, which is a standard approach, but the fact that The Naked Gun reboot achieves acclaim with a solid opening speaks loudly about the timelessness of Zucker’s original movie.
Source: Fox News Digital
