This weekend marks the return of Lt. Frank Drebin’s hilariously chaotic world to cinemas, as “The Naked Gun” series is revived for the first time in over three decades. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, known for “Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping,” the 2025 version of “The Naked Gun” introduces Liam Neeson as the lead, stepping into the role of Drebin’s son, originally portrayed by the late Leslie Nielsen.
Although initial feedback on the new “The Naked Gun” movie has been favorable, one notable figure remains absent from the discussion: David Zucker. Zucker, who directed the first two films of the series and contributed as a writer and producer to the third, has opted not to share his views on the new film.
Zucker — also recognized for his work on the “Airplane!” and “Scary Movie” franchises — expressed his disappointment to TMZ back in April after watching the trailer for the reboot, voicing his dissatisfaction and lamenting the fact that he was not involved in this new installment’s creation.
“I avoided watching ‘Airplane 2’ for a reason; some things you can’t unsee. I have no intention of watching the ‘Naked Gun’ remake either,” Zucker explained to TMZ. “I regret even watching the trailer for it.”
Zucker, at 77, compared watching the new film’s trailer to a notoriously notorious 2007 viral video involving two girls and a drink container, stating, “I can’t unsee it,” to emphasize his distaste.
Zucker shared that in 2018, his team had submitted a script for the revival to Paramount, who reportedly showed interest. However, he was taken aback when he learned that the studio had decided to move forward with a different team. Despite being offered a producer credit during production, Zucker declined it due to his dissatisfaction with the script.
“I read the script and I politely told them I wasn’t going to put my name on it,” Zucker told 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 told THR in a different interview in May that he had doubts about the casting of Neeson, saying, “Everybody thinks that they can do it, do spoof. It’s really, really specific.”
Production drama aside, “The Naked Gun” has plenty of anticipation behind it. In addition to Neeson, pop culture icon Pamela Anderson also joins as the film’s female lead. Anderson, 58, received rave reviews last year for her return to the big screen in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl.”
“The Naked Gun” opens nationwide August 1.
