"Director of the Original 'Naked Gun' reveals his motives for not participating in Liam Neeson's reboot"
In the world of comedy filmmaking, the name David Zucker stands tall. Known for his work on the iconic "Naked Gun" series and the groundbreaking "Airplane!", Zucker has once again taken the helm with his new project, "Master Crash: A Crash Course In Spoof Comedy", a 15-episode instructional web series [7].
However, his latest film, "Star of Malta", has been making waves in a different context. With a budget of $10 million [6], this indie release is set in 1949 and promises to be "completely new" [8]. The film noir-style movie features a young actor and a believable story, a departure from the usual spoof and parody fare [8].
Meanwhile, Zucker's views on the upcoming reboot of "The Naked Gun" have caused quite a stir. The film, set to star Liam Neeson and directed by Akiva Schaffer, has been met with criticism from Zucker, who believes it lacks originality [3].
In the past, Zucker had worked on ideas for a "Naked Gun 4", focusing on the son of Frank Drebin, the original protagonist played by Leslie Nielsen. The concept involved a modernized take, distancing itself from the typical police setting and adding an international espionage parody dimension [2]. Unfortunately, Zucker's complete script on spec for Paramount was ultimately rejected in favour of the reboot produced by Seth MacFarlane [1][4].
Zucker has made it clear that he bears no ill will towards the film's cast and crew, including Seth MacFarlane, the creator of "Family Guy". He also emphasizes that he's not calling for a boycott of the reboot [5]. However, his comparison of the potential of watching the reboot to watching his daughter become a prostitute, a quote from the late co-director of "Airplane!", speaks volumes [3].
Amidst this controversy, Zucker continues to work on "Master Crash", which debuted its first episode last month [7]. He stresses the importance of knowing how to write and direct jokes, a believable story, believable characters, and an arc in creating successful spoof or parody films [9].
Despite the controversy surrounding the "Naked Gun" reboot, Zucker's focus remains on his new projects, striving to bring fresh, original ideas to the table. The film industry, according to Zucker, is suffering from a lack of originality, and he hopes to change that with his work [10]. The "Star of Malta" and "Master Crash" are testaments to his commitment to pushing boundaries and creating something new in the world of comedy filmmaking.
References: 1. Deadline Hollywood 2. Screen Rant 3. The Wrap 4. Variety 5. CinemaBlend 6. IMDb 7. Master Crash Official Website 8. The Hollywood Reporter 9. The Guardian 10. Vanity Fair
The focus of David Zucker, renowned for his work in spoof comedy, is now on his new project, "Master Crash: A Crash Course In Spoof Comedy", which recently debuted its first episode. Concurrently, his latest film, "Star of Malta", deviates from his usual parody fare, promising a believable story set in 1949 and boasting a budget of $10 million.
