‘Naked Gun’ Creator Sends Mixed Signals On Reboot

Naked Gun creator David Zucker has sent mixed signals on a remake for his classic series starring Leslie Nielsen as Lieutenant Frank Drebin.

In a recent interview with Hollywood.com to promote his latest project (Scary Movie V), Zucker believed in the viability of a new Naked Gun. “You could do another Naked Gun, with a reboot. Like Star Trek,” Zucker said.

Anyone, who has seen the original films, may find a new entry hard to swallow without the aid of star Nielsen, who died in 2010 at age 84, but Zucker insisted, “There are people who can do that and they’re not famous. You wouldn’t know who they were. But I know actors who can do it.”

Cinema Blend called the idea “a fool’s errand,” but one need look only as far as the successful reboot of TheThree Stooges from Bobby and Peter Farrelly from 2012 to see how this idea could work.

The Farrelly brothers were able to land three character actors in Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, and Chris Diamantopoulos, who nailed the voices and the mannerisms of Larry, Curley, and Moe, to a tee.

Zucker would be wise to follow their lead in choosing a low-key replacement to avoid the baggage a “name” star would bring to the table. The only problem: he’s not keen on doing it.

“There’s room for a Naked Gun style. A bumbling guy in a position where he’s respected,” Zucker said. “Leslie Nielsen played Lieutenant Frank Drebin and nobody seemed to have a clue that he’s an idiot. I want to do the character, but not the specific [job]. Not Naked Gun.”

So sorry, Naked Gun fans, no reboot.

In related (unfortunate) news, actor Richard Griffiths, who starred in Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear died in March 2013. Here’s some classic footage of the two together:

Would you be up for a Naked Gun reboot? If so, how would you cast it?