According to David Zucker, a “silly, mild” joke that did not go down well with a Paramount exec saw the original Naked Gun team “blocked.”
SUMMARY
The Naked Gun franchise reboot is not impressing the original creators who feel excluded from the project.
The original script for Naked Gun 4 was rejected due to a minor joke, leading to Seth MacFarlane taking over the reboot.
Despite not being used in the new film, the original creators are repurposing their script into an original movie called Counterintelijence.
The upcoming reboot of The Naked Gun sounds like it could tickle the funny bones of many moviegoers, but it hasn’t exactly enamored itself to the original movie’s creators.
As a shining example of late ‘80s and ‘90s slapstick and innuendo-packed comedies, The Naked Gun franchise did not concern itself with anything other than making a large audience laugh with its ridiculous visual humor and wordplay.
Now it seems that Liam Neeson is set to step into the shoes of Leslie Neilsen, playing Lt.
Frank Drebin’s son in a reboot produced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, co-creator David Zucker and writer Pat Proft revealed that they were originally set to write the fourth movie in the franchise, but were replaced when a female Paramount exec didn’t like the inclusion of a “stupid, mild joke.” Zucker explained that the rejection of their script came after things seemed to be moving along well. He said:
“Pat, Mike and I wrote a script for Naked Gun 4, and we heard Jon Gonda at Paramount had read the script and laughed all the way through it, but somewhere along the line, they decided not to go with Pat and Mike and me.
So that’s when they got Seth MacFarlane, and he has Akiva Schaffer directing Liam Neeson. I was never able to meet with Seth.
About four years ago, Pat and I had one meeting over at Paramount with the then-head of production there.
It was a woman who complained about some joke that Pat and I wrote about a police officer having to adjust her Kevlar vest or have a breast reduction or something. It’s just a stupid, mild joke, but that was too much for them.
So I can’t even imagine how they’re limiting whoever does Naked Gun 4, if they’re that frightened.”
However, Zucker went on to say that despite not being used in the new Naked Gun movie, their script will still be seen, as it has been reworked into an original film. He added:
We’re not involved, and we’ve repurposed what was going to be Naked Gun 4 — as we called it, Counterintelijence, spelled with one L and a J — and we’re going to go out with that one.
While David Zucker has accepted that The Naked Gun franchise will be carrying on without his involvement, writer Proft is not quite as happy to move on, and has a grim view of what will happen to the reboot under its new management. He said:
“I’m not happy — and there’s a story with it, but I’m not pleased. It may come out and may be great — and good for that — but I sure as f*ck should be writing it.
I should have done this one… We’ve been totally blocked out of it. The unfortunate part of it is that Paramount owns it, so they can do what they f*cking want. So that’s it.”
Despite changing times and the “offensive” nature of some of the franchise’s humor, the legacy of The Naked Gun remains intact.
Based on the failed TV series Police Squad, the original trilogy started with the 1988 film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which was followed by two sequels in 1991 and 1994. A commercial success and huge hit with audiences, the original movie made a lasting impression on the world of film, with its influence being clear in many other comedy movies, but rarely being replicated today.
Details about the reboot are still under wraps, although Neeson has spoken a few times about his excitement to be part of the project. For now though, the only way to get your Naked Gun fix is through the original movies, which are currently streaming on Max or Paramount+ depending on your location.
