LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2025
David Zucker, a co-creator and director of the original Naked Gun films, has softened his stance on the new Liam Neeson-starring reboot, expressing delight at its positive reception.
David Zucker, instrumental in the beloved Naked Gun franchise, is now praising the new installment starring Liam Neeson, a notable shift from his initial skepticism.
- David Zucker,creator of the original Naked Gun,now approves of the Liam Neeson reboot.
- He previously expressed anger over being excluded from the new film’s production.
- Zucker believes the reboot’s success highlights a strong market for theatrical comedy.
- He has no plans to see the film but wishes the new team well.
Zucker’s Turnaround
David Zucker, the mastermind behind the original Police Squad! and Naked Gun franchises, has witnessed the critical acclaim and box office success of the new Naked Gun reboot starring Liam Neeson. His initial reactions were far from celebratory, marked by skepticism and frustration over his exclusion from the creative process.
Speaking recently, Zucker appeared more amiable. “People are liking it, which is great,” he said. He praised the director, Akiva Schaffer, stating, “I really like the director, and I just couldn’t wish him more well.” Zucker revealed he had already texted Schaffer, relaying the positive reviews and strong box office tracking. “He was very happy to hear from me, and we’ll probably get together later in the month when the smoke clears,” Zucker added.
He expressed excitement, noting, “I’m excited about it because it just shows that there’s a strong market for comedy in movie theatres, and spoof in particular.”
Past Discontent
Last year, zucker’s tone was starkly different.He voiced his disappointment, stating, “Paramount is just going ahead and doing it, they haven’t involved me. They’re just gonna do what they want, that’s Hollywood.” Zucker and his brother jerry Zucker had pitched a fourth installment, but the studio rejected their script, which focused on Frank Drebin’s son.
“We were not excited about having the franchise given to othre people,” Zucker admitted. He mentioned, “They have not contacted me to make a cameo or be involved in the writing.” He also commented on the difficulty of creating successful spoofs, saying, “it’s not rocket science, but it’s not easy.”
Earlier this year, Zucker reiterated his stance, indicating he was “not planning on seeing the Naked Gun remake” and regretting even seeing its trailer. He infamously compared a trailer to a 2007 Brazilian pornographic film, famously stating, “It’s
