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David Zucker Says ‘Naked Gun’ Reboot Backed by Seth MacFarlane Missed His Spoof Style

He argues big-budget “technical pizzazz” undermined the methodical parody approach he pioneered.

Overview

  • In a new interview, Zucker says producer Seth MacFarlane "totally missed it" by trying to copy the spoof-comedy style he developed with Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams.
  • He criticizes the revival’s spending on "technical pizzazz," asserting that big budgets blunt comedy and noting the reboot’s reported $42 million cost versus $14.5 million for the 1988 original, roughly $38 million today.
  • Zucker contends the new film was made for financial reasons, saying "Everybody’s in it for the money now."
  • He says he turned down an executive-producer credit, declined an invitation to see an early cut, and has no intention of watching the movie.
  • The 2025 installment stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., was directed by Akiva Schaffer with a script by Schaffer, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, and credits MacFarlane as a producer with WGA-listed "Additional Literary Material."