David Zucker, the director of the original films ‘The Naked Gun’ (1988) and ‘The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear’ (1991) starring Leslie Nielsen, stated that he does not intend to watch the new reboot of the franchise, which premiered in early August 2025. In the updated version, Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., with Akiva Schaffer directing.
Zucker clarified that his decision is not a boycott and is not based on any dislike toward the actors or the creators of the remake. According to him, Liam Neeson is a wonderful actor but, in his view, “not suited for parodies.” The main reason he refuses to watch the film is the lack of originality. The director noted that he has never been a supporter of repeating the same material and even did not want to direct the third installment, limiting his involvement to producing.
In an interview, Zucker admitted he would have preferred to take the franchise in a different direction. Before the current project was greenlit, he had been working on a concept for The Naked Gun 4 as an international spy thriller in the style of Mission: Impossible. Such a version, in his opinion, would have introduced fresh elements and taken the story to a new level. However, Paramount approved another script that retained the original concept. “Paramount is just going ahead and doing it, they haven’t involved me. They’re just gonna do what they want, that’s Hollywood,” he said.
The director also expressed concern about the broader state of the film industry, where studios increasingly prefer to exploit proven ideas rather than take risks with new stories. Zucker believes that constant remakes and reboots limit the development of cinema. His comments are particularly relevant given the rising number of such projects.
However, despite Zucker’s criticism, the new Naked Gun has been warmly received. Many critics and fans of the franchise call it the best film since the 1988 original, praising it as a successful and modern update. Now, David Zucker says he feels “excited” about the positive reviews and strong ratings for the new film, softening his stance toward the reboot. “People are liking it, which is great. (…) it just shows that there’s a strong market for comedy in movie theatres, and spoof in particular,” he said.
