Back in December 2013, we reportedthatEd Helmssigned on to star in Paramount’s remake ofThe Naked Gun, although the initial story hinted that it may not be a straight-up crime procedural parody like the 1988 comedy classicThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad. The last we heard about the project was in January 2014, when screenwriterRobert Ben Garantinsisted that it will be more of a “continuation” of the franchise than a reboot. Now, according to original Naked Gun directorDavid Zucker, this new incarnation won’t be a parody or a spoof, essentially confirming the original report. Here’s whatDavid Zuckerhad to say, when asked byYahoo! Moviesif he is involved in this updated version ofThe Naked Gun.
“I have no involvement in it. They own it and they wanted to do it withEd Helmsand two writers. It won’t be like the Naked Gun that I did. It may be good, but it won’t be that kind of movie. They’re going to use the title. They asked me if I wanted to produce. They’re nice people, but they don’t want to do that style of spoof that I do. I would want somebody who had never been in an comedy.Ed Helmsis very well known for three of the biggest comedies ever. I understand why Paramount is doing what they’re doing. If my name was on it, I would be making all sorts of suggestions and trying to change it, and it would be frustrating.”
David Zuckerwas at the forefront of the spoof genre with his films such asAirplane!, Top Secret! and BASEketball. He also directedScary Movie 3andScary Movie 4, but admitted that the spoof genre “has come on hard times” as of late.
“It becomes watered down. I producedScary Movie V, [and] that was so watered-down that [it] contributed to ruining the genre, as did all theFriedbergandSeltzermovies [such asDate Movie,Epic Movie, andMeet the Spartans]. [Parody] has come on hard times. They’re not being done well.Scary Movie 3andScary Movie 4did well, they made tons of money, they were huge hits. But byScary Movie V, it just got watered-down, we had to do what the studio required. It’s why I didn’t want to direct it anymore.”
What are your thoughts onThe Naked Gunremake not even being crafted as a parody? Do you think this franchise should be left alone, or are you looking forward to seeing whatEd Helmscan bring to the table as Frank Drebin? Let us know what you think below.
