David Zucker, the director of the original Naked Gun film, is viewing the positive reception of the reboot as a beacon of hope in an otherwise tumultuous time for Hollywood comedy. Although he has no intentions of watching the new movie featuring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, he acknowledges the strong market for comedies, particularly spoofs, with the reboot debuting at third place in the box office, grossing $17 million.
Zucker expressed mixed feelings about not being involved in the new installment. He collaborated on a script for a potential fourth Naked Gun film, which would have introduced Frank Drebin’s thirty-something son, but this project was ultimately sidelined. Despite his decision not to watch the reboot, he shares his excitement for the film’s director, Akiva Schaffer, and has reached out to him to congratulate him on the positive reviews it’s received.
“I’m not gonna see it, but I don’t see any of the sequels that were of my material done by other people, and that’s fine,” he stated. Zucker emphasized that he prefers to maintain integrity by not taking credit for work he didn’t contribute to, gracefully turning down the executive producer credit offered by Paramount. He humorously noted that the credit would amount to little financial gain after management expenses.
Zucker remains optimistic, hoping that the buzz around the reboot will reignite interest in his own project, which was meant to serve as the fourth Naked Gun movie but has since evolved into a new film entitled Counterintelijence. Additionally, he is working on a noir spoof titled The Star of Malta that he aims to produce with a limited budget.
In essence, Zucker’s perspective mixes gratitude and optimism regarding the future of comedy, signaling a possible resurgence for the genre in theaters and the continued relevance of spoof films. His collaborative spirit and resilience highlight the enduring impact of his original works while paving the way for new creative endeavors.