David Zucker, co-creator of the original The Naked Gun series, has openly condemned the recent Liam Neeson Naked Gun reboot released last year, calling the decision to recast Leslie Nielsen’s iconic role “moronic.” Although Zucker admitted he has not watched the new film, he blamed Paramount Pictures and producer Seth MacFarlane for damaging the franchise’s legacy.
Zucker revealed that Paramount bypassed his own screenplay for a fourth installment, which was designed to introduce a younger lead with a style reminiscent of James Bond. He expressed frustration with how Hollywood studios prefer taking fewer risks by relying on established stars like Neeson and creators such as MacFarlane instead of nurturing original ideas.
In response to the studio’s choices, Zucker said the wrong approach was taken, resulting in a film that strayed from the spirit of the original series. Rather than discarding his work entirely, he repurposed the unproduced Naked Gun 4 script into a project called Counter Intelligence. Zucker is also developing a film noir parody and conducting an online comedy course, continuing his career outside of the reboot’s influence.
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions between original creators and studio executives over franchise revivals, suggesting the reboot’s reception could impact future decisions about classic comedy properties in Hollywood.
