"The Naked Gun" Director David Zucker Slams Seth MacFarlane’s Reboot: 'Being A Fan Isn’t Enough'

Dan Lalonde
Apr 27
1 min read

David Zucker, the original director and co-writer behind The Naked Gun, isn’t mincing words about the franchise’s upcoming reboot.

In an interview with Fox News, Zucker criticized producer Seth MacFarlane and director Akiva Schaffer for sidelining him from the project, despite their professed admiration for his work. "MacFarlane called me and spent 10 minutes telling me how much he loved my movies," Zucker recalled. "But when I offered to help, he didn’t want me involved."

Zucker also slammed the teaser trailer, likening the experience of watching it to seeing something he "can’t unsee," referencing a notorious X-rated video. While he acknowledges MacFarlane and Schaffer’s sincerity, Zucker warned that loving the original films isn’t the same as being able to recreate them. "Just being a fan doesn’t mean you can do it," he said. "Kids, don’t try this at home."

Adding fuel to his disappointment, Zucker revealed he had previously penned a rejected Naked Gun 4 script, envisioning a spoof blending Mission: Impossible, Bourne Identity, and James Bond with a younger cast — starring Andy Samberg as Drebin’s son. In contrast, the new film stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., sticking closer to the original’s aging protagonist model.

While Zucker’s frustration is clear, Hollywood’s history shows that passionate fans sometimes successfully reinvent beloved genres. Whether MacFarlane’s reboot will honor the spirit of The Naked Gun remains to be seen when it hits theaters this summer.