After donning ape fur for his upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Kevin Durand is now getting Naked.
The actor, who is also currently on screens with horror movie Abigail, has joined Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser are also on the call sheet for the feature that will begin shooting later this month.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that...
The actor, who is also currently on screens with horror movie Abigail, has joined Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser are also on the call sheet for the feature that will begin shooting later this month.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that...
- 5/2/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Deadline reports that Paul Walter Hauser has joined the cast of the upcoming Naked Gun reboot. While these casting announcements don’t always reveal who the actor will be playing, this time, it does! Hauser will play Captain Ed, the role played by George Kennedy in the previous Naked Gun movies.
Liam Neeson has long been attached to star in the Naked Gun reboot, and it was announced last month that Pamela Anderson would be starring alongside him. It’s not known precisely who Anderson will play, but it’s expected that she’ll be the romantic lead, similar to Priscilla Presley’s role in the original movies. Production will kick off later this year with Akiva Schaffer directing from a script by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.
Paul Walter Hauser is also attached to play Chris Farley in a biopic about the iconic comedian directed by Josh Gad.
Related...
Liam Neeson has long been attached to star in the Naked Gun reboot, and it was announced last month that Pamela Anderson would be starring alongside him. It’s not known precisely who Anderson will play, but it’s expected that she’ll be the romantic lead, similar to Priscilla Presley’s role in the original movies. Production will kick off later this year with Akiva Schaffer directing from a script by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.
Paul Walter Hauser is also attached to play Chris Farley in a biopic about the iconic comedian directed by Josh Gad.
Related...
- 5/1/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
It's a busy old time for Paul Walter Hauser – with good reason, since he's been putting in excellent, memorable and award-winning performances in a variety of films and shows. He's now attached to another big title, joining Liam Neeson in the cast of Paramount's new spin on The Naked Gun.
The 1988 original saw David Zucker, brother Jerry, Jim Abrahams and co-writer Pat Proft turn their short-lived comedy series Police Squad! into a movie. It was an instant comedy hit, Leslie Nielsen's iconic central performance cementing his transformation from dramatic actor to comedy legend as Detective Frank Drebin.
Two sequels followed to diminishing returns (though there are still good gags to be enjoyed in both), but we started to hear rumours of a remake in development years ago. That went through a few versions — Ed Helms was attached to star for while — and more recently, Seth MacFarlane has been involved,...
The 1988 original saw David Zucker, brother Jerry, Jim Abrahams and co-writer Pat Proft turn their short-lived comedy series Police Squad! into a movie. It was an instant comedy hit, Leslie Nielsen's iconic central performance cementing his transformation from dramatic actor to comedy legend as Detective Frank Drebin.
Two sequels followed to diminishing returns (though there are still good gags to be enjoyed in both), but we started to hear rumours of a remake in development years ago. That went through a few versions — Ed Helms was attached to star for while — and more recently, Seth MacFarlane has been involved,...
- 5/1/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
Paul Walter Hauser is ready to fight crime alongside Liam Neeson in the reboot of the Naked Gun franchise.
Hauser is set to play Captain Ed in director Akiva Schaffer’s untitled new Naked Gun film that Paramount Pictures plans to release July 18, 2025. George Kennedy previously played the role in the original film trilogy that kicked off with the 1988 comedy The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Dan Gregor and Doug Mand penned the new movie’s script with Schaffer. The two scribes previously wrote the director’s Emmy-winning Disney+ feature Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door produce the project that is based on the Naked Gun film franchise and the television series Police Squad! from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Daniel M. Stillman serves as executive producer.
Hauser joins the cast that includes Neeson and Pamela Anderson. While plot details are under wraps,...
Hauser is set to play Captain Ed in director Akiva Schaffer’s untitled new Naked Gun film that Paramount Pictures plans to release July 18, 2025. George Kennedy previously played the role in the original film trilogy that kicked off with the 1988 comedy The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Dan Gregor and Doug Mand penned the new movie’s script with Schaffer. The two scribes previously wrote the director’s Emmy-winning Disney+ feature Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door produce the project that is based on the Naked Gun film franchise and the television series Police Squad! from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Daniel M. Stillman serves as executive producer.
Hauser joins the cast that includes Neeson and Pamela Anderson. While plot details are under wraps,...
- 5/1/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Paul Walter Hauser’s hot streak continues. After seeing New Line lock up rights to the authorized Chris Farley biopic in which he’ll star for director Josh Gad, the actor has signed on to the untitled Naked Gun reboot from Paramount Pictures.
Hauser joins an ensemble that also includes Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, as previously announced. He’ll take on the role of Ed, Frank Drebin’s partner, which was inhabited in prior Naked Gun films by George Kennedy, and in the preceding series Police Squad! by Alan North.
Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release in theaters on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer, with whom they partnered on the Emmy-winning film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.
Hauser joins an ensemble that also includes Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, as previously announced. He’ll take on the role of Ed, Frank Drebin’s partner, which was inhabited in prior Naked Gun films by George Kennedy, and in the preceding series Police Squad! by Alan North.
Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release in theaters on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer, with whom they partnered on the Emmy-winning film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.
- 5/1/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
10. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Tired of the repetitive teen rom-coms of the 1990s, director Joel Gallen decided to make his own — and arguably, one of the best by far. In perhaps the most classic teen movie tale, a popular high-school jock gets challenged by his friends to turn a shy and bullied girl into a prom queen… And hopelessly falls in love with her.
You can watch Not Another Teen Movie on Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
9. Scary Movie (2000)
A very similar thought occurred to Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Scary Movie who pumped his flick full with the most popular horror cliches of the 1990s — and still produced a greatly entertaining film. A group of teenagers who accidentally killed a man is haunted by a mysterious mumbling killer who picks them off one by one.
You can watch Scary Movie on Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
8. This Is Spinal Tap...
Tired of the repetitive teen rom-coms of the 1990s, director Joel Gallen decided to make his own — and arguably, one of the best by far. In perhaps the most classic teen movie tale, a popular high-school jock gets challenged by his friends to turn a shy and bullied girl into a prom queen… And hopelessly falls in love with her.
You can watch Not Another Teen Movie on Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
9. Scary Movie (2000)
A very similar thought occurred to Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Scary Movie who pumped his flick full with the most popular horror cliches of the 1990s — and still produced a greatly entertaining film. A group of teenagers who accidentally killed a man is haunted by a mysterious mumbling killer who picks them off one by one.
You can watch Scary Movie on Max, Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video.
8. This Is Spinal Tap...
- 4/27/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
After years of rumors and speculation, Liam Neeson’s Naked Gun reboot looks like it is finally heading into production. Set to be directed by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer, and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Man, fans expect a lot from this reboot. While many have tried (and failed) to update the franchise, and it’s hard to imagine anyone stepping into Leslie Nielsen’s iconic shoes at Lt. Frank Drebin, it’s pretty interesting that the team pairing on this is the same one that teamed on Disney’s much better than expected reboot of Chip n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers. All involved are really funny, so if anyone could make this work, it’s them. With a release date tentatively set for July 18th, 2025, here’s everything we know about the Naked Gun reboot.
Liam Neeson will be the star.
While some may wonder why Liam Neeson,...
Liam Neeson will be the star.
While some may wonder why Liam Neeson,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
When it was announced that Liam Neeson would be playing the lead in a reboot of The Naked Gun, the sound of people collectively going “Whaaaa??” was heard across every precinct. Liam Neeson? The guy who reinvented his career by pretty much only taking on action movies when he was in his mid-50s? Heck, even Neeson himself was a little nervous about whether he could handle such rapid-fire comedy. Now, original Naked Gun director and co-creator David Zucker is weighing in, casting his own skepticism on the project.
Speaking with TMZ, David Zucker said of the upcoming Naked Gun entry – the first in three decades – “We were not excited about having the franchise given to other people. At the time, I couldn’t believe it because we thought we had a great script, and they loved the script from what we heard. I don’t have any control over it.
Speaking with TMZ, David Zucker said of the upcoming Naked Gun entry – the first in three decades – “We were not excited about having the franchise given to other people. At the time, I couldn’t believe it because we thought we had a great script, and they loved the script from what we heard. I don’t have any control over it.
- 4/24/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
We all know Trey Parker and Matt Stone from South Park, but what about all that came before it? Sure, some of us may have checked out Orgazmo to get an idea of what the boys were up to and maybe you even tracked down Cannibal! The Musical. But only the true die hard Parker and Stone fans have seen Your Studio and You. Styled after industrial movies of the 1950s – which would guide viewers through the process of any given corporation – Your Studio and You gives us a glimpse inside of Universal Studios…with exactly the sort of humor that fans would expect from Parker and Stone.
Released in 1995, Your Studio and You was a commissioned piece from David Zucker, who would go on to direct Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s BASEketball. Meant for internal studio use only, the 14-minute short begins by poking fun at “classic talking...
Released in 1995, Your Studio and You was a commissioned piece from David Zucker, who would go on to direct Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s BASEketball. Meant for internal studio use only, the 14-minute short begins by poking fun at “classic talking...
- 4/22/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
The best things come in threes, especially stories. In Western nations, we like a three-act structure in which we set a status quo, watch our heroes fall, and then see them return to greatness. Some of these stories cannot be held within a single movie. For those epics, those monumental narratives, the movie trilogy was born. Trilogies represent some of the best that cinema has to offer, movies that changed the culture and the art form. The trilogy might vary in quality from film to film, but together these three films tell a story that cannot be ignored.
Before we get too far, let’s lay out our criteria. The trilogies chosen here are those intended to be a trilogy, either from the outset or by the end of the third film. Thus we’re including things such as the Toy Story and Indiana Jones trilogies, even though those continued on with further entries.
Before we get too far, let’s lay out our criteria. The trilogies chosen here are those intended to be a trilogy, either from the outset or by the end of the third film. Thus we’re including things such as the Toy Story and Indiana Jones trilogies, even though those continued on with further entries.
- 4/20/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
‘Baywatch’ alumni Pamela Anderson has joined Liam Neeson in the forthcoming reboot of ‘Naked Gun’.
The movie is based on the ‘Naked Gun’ movie franchise which starred Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin. The original franchise was created by the creators of Paramount’s ‘Airplane!’, namely Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The Naked Gun trilogy was released during the early 1990s and was a big hit at the domestic box office, grossing over $216 million. Similar to Airplane!, the Naked Gun film series was famous for its outrageous parody, ridiculous set-ups, and on-screen sight gags.
Also in news – Pierce Brosnan set for Prince Naseem boxing biopic ‘Giant’
Akiva Schaffer is directing and executive producing. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for the project. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.
Anderson has previously...
The movie is based on the ‘Naked Gun’ movie franchise which starred Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin. The original franchise was created by the creators of Paramount’s ‘Airplane!’, namely Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The Naked Gun trilogy was released during the early 1990s and was a big hit at the domestic box office, grossing over $216 million. Similar to Airplane!, the Naked Gun film series was famous for its outrageous parody, ridiculous set-ups, and on-screen sight gags.
Also in news – Pierce Brosnan set for Prince Naseem boxing biopic ‘Giant’
Akiva Schaffer is directing and executive producing. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for the project. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.
Anderson has previously...
- 4/17/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Pamela Anderson is dressing up for Naked Gun.
The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.
Plot details are...
The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.
Plot details are...
- 4/16/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Leslie Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin was wrong: Cops and women do mix, and with that we have Pamela Anderson joining Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled Naked Gun reboot, which Akiva Schaffer is directing and executive producing for a July 18, 2025 theatrical release.
The Baywatch actress of 110 episodes has the comedy chops; she’s starred in such big-screen titles as Scary Movie 3 and Superhero Movie, both satirical movies ala the spirit of Naked Gun. Anderson also reprised her TV role of C.J. Parker in Paramount’s big-screen 2017 redux of Baywatch that starred Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario.
Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for Naked Gun. Gregor and Mand also wrote the Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing Naked via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.
The movie...
The Baywatch actress of 110 episodes has the comedy chops; she’s starred in such big-screen titles as Scary Movie 3 and Superhero Movie, both satirical movies ala the spirit of Naked Gun. Anderson also reprised her TV role of C.J. Parker in Paramount’s big-screen 2017 redux of Baywatch that starred Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario.
Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for Naked Gun. Gregor and Mand also wrote the Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing Naked via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.
The movie...
- 4/16/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Over ten years since the forgettable Scary Movie 5, we’re now getting Scary Movie 6, which is arriving in 2025. More here.
Infamously taking the original title intended for the first Scream film, the spoof Scary Movie arrived in cinemas all the way back in the summer of 2000, and promptly outgrossed the film that it was basically taking the piss out of. Along with its first sequel, that arrived a year later, it was directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, and the modestly-costed films returned sizeable profits.
Not that they were much cop after the first film. David Zucker took over for Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4, in 2003 and 2006 respectively, and both in truth veer on the ‘best forgotten’ side. It took seven more years before we got Scary Movie 5, with Malcolm D Lee this time directing, and the quality of that film seemed to have driven the franchise into the ground for good.
Infamously taking the original title intended for the first Scream film, the spoof Scary Movie arrived in cinemas all the way back in the summer of 2000, and promptly outgrossed the film that it was basically taking the piss out of. Along with its first sequel, that arrived a year later, it was directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, and the modestly-costed films returned sizeable profits.
Not that they were much cop after the first film. David Zucker took over for Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4, in 2003 and 2006 respectively, and both in truth veer on the ‘best forgotten’ side. It took seven more years before we got Scary Movie 5, with Malcolm D Lee this time directing, and the quality of that film seemed to have driven the franchise into the ground for good.
- 4/12/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
The Scary Movie franchise — which parodied popular horror films like Scream and The Ring — is getting a reboot.
The horror-comedy spoof series began with the titular Scary Movie in 2000, and now, it’ll be resurrected by Paramount Pictures and Fast & Furious producer Neil H. Morris. Per Variety, Paramount is also partnering on the film with Miramax, the studio behind the original Scary Movie franchise.
The new film is slated to go into production in the fall of 2024, and will land in theaters in 2025. The original series spawned five films, four of which starred Anna Faris and Regina Hall. The first two films were directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, with spoof-titan David Zucker directing the third and fourth installments. The final Scary Movie film arrived in 2013 — meaning the new reboot will have 11 years-worth of popular horror films to parody.
Scary Movie Franchise Getting Reboot From Paramount
Paolo Ragusa...
The horror-comedy spoof series began with the titular Scary Movie in 2000, and now, it’ll be resurrected by Paramount Pictures and Fast & Furious producer Neil H. Morris. Per Variety, Paramount is also partnering on the film with Miramax, the studio behind the original Scary Movie franchise.
The new film is slated to go into production in the fall of 2024, and will land in theaters in 2025. The original series spawned five films, four of which starred Anna Faris and Regina Hall. The first two films were directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, with spoof-titan David Zucker directing the third and fourth installments. The final Scary Movie film arrived in 2013 — meaning the new reboot will have 11 years-worth of popular horror films to parody.
Scary Movie Franchise Getting Reboot From Paramount
Paolo Ragusa...
- 4/11/2024
- by Paolo Ragusa
- Consequence - Film News
Paramount wasn’t messing around during their CinemaCon panel today, giving attendees previews of movies like Smile 2, Gladiator II, A Quiet Place: Day One, Transformers One, and If, revealing The Running Man casting news, and announcing several movies, including a live-action comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Scary Movie 6, a Transformers / G.I. Joe crossover, and a live-action, R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. They also unveiled several titles on their 2024 – 2026 slate, and we can’t possibly cover them all… so we have gone ahead and dropped the full list into this article. Scroll down to see what Paramount has in store for us over the next couple years.
If
Release Date: May 17, 2024
Written and Directed by: John Krasinski
Producers: Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds
Executive Producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Cast: Cailey Fleming,...
If
Release Date: May 17, 2024
Written and Directed by: John Krasinski
Producers: Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds
Executive Producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio
Cast: Cailey Fleming,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are best known for creating the animated series South Park, which they have dedicated a few decades of their lives to – but as South Park marches on into its 27th season, Parker and Stone are also taking some time to work with rapper Kendrick Lamar and filmmaker / record executive Dave Free on a live-action comedy they have set up at Paramount Pictures. Parker and Stone are producing the currently-untitled film through their company Park County while Lamar and Free do the same for pgLang, and during the Paramount panel at CinemaCon today it was announced that the film is set for a July 4, 2025 theatrical release!
While speaking at CinemaCon, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins had this to say about the project: “I’m excited to announce that we’re going into production this summer on a live-action comedy from the creators of South Park and The Book of Mormon,...
While speaking at CinemaCon, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins had this to say about the project: “I’m excited to announce that we’re going into production this summer on a live-action comedy from the creators of South Park and The Book of Mormon,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Following the news of O.J. Simpson dying of cancer, celebrity reactions to the controversial figure’s death began pouring in.
In a statement shared by the Simpson family on Thursday morning, it was announced that on Wednesday, the former football player, who became better known for being accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman amid an infamous televised car chase and trial, “succumbed to his battle with cancer” while surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
Caitlyn Jenner, who married Kris Jenner shortly after the Kardashian matriarch’s divorce from Robert Kardashian, who was Simpson’s defense attorney during the murder trial, was among the first to react on social media. “Good Riddance #OJSimpson,” she tweeted.
Mia Farrow also took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Thinking of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman – and their families.”
Gloria Allred, the attorney who represented Nicole Brown Simpson...
In a statement shared by the Simpson family on Thursday morning, it was announced that on Wednesday, the former football player, who became better known for being accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman amid an infamous televised car chase and trial, “succumbed to his battle with cancer” while surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
Caitlyn Jenner, who married Kris Jenner shortly after the Kardashian matriarch’s divorce from Robert Kardashian, who was Simpson’s defense attorney during the murder trial, was among the first to react on social media. “Good Riddance #OJSimpson,” she tweeted.
Mia Farrow also took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Thinking of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman – and their families.”
Gloria Allred, the attorney who represented Nicole Brown Simpson...
- 4/11/2024
- by Tatiana Tenreyro and Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eleven years have gone by since the release of a new entry in the Scary Movie horror parody series – but the franchise isn’t going to remain dormant for much longer. Deadline reports that the Miramax label at Paramount, which is now operating under new boss Jonathan Glickman, has given the greenlight to a new Scary Movie sequel, with the plan being to get the film into theatres sometime in 2025. If any writers or a director are attached to the project, they weren’t named in this announcement.
Directed by In Living Color creator Keenen Ivory Wayans from a screenplay written by a bunch of people, the first Scary Movie was released by Dimension Films back in 2000. Scary Movie 2 was released in 2001, and the Wayans remained at the head of the creative team for that one. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed it from a screenplay credited to Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans,...
Directed by In Living Color creator Keenen Ivory Wayans from a screenplay written by a bunch of people, the first Scary Movie was released by Dimension Films back in 2000. Scary Movie 2 was released in 2001, and the Wayans remained at the head of the creative team for that one. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed it from a screenplay credited to Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Ridley Scott’s production company has a new UK television chief.
Sharon Hughff, who was previously Creative Director, Scripted Television at eOne in the UK, has been named Head of Television at Scott Free UK.
Reporting to Scott Free’s Cco David W Zucker, and President of Television, Clayton Krueger, Hughff will oversee development and production for the company’s slate of scripted programming out of London.
It comes two years after Hughff joined eOne from The Crown producer Left Bank, where she produced series including Netflix’s White Lines and Sky/Cinemax series Strike Back.
She most recently exec produced the adaptation of Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow for Paramount+ and Showtime, which premieres later this month. The series stars Ewan McGregor and was written by Ben Vanstone.
Previous credits at Left Bank, where she was an executive producer include an adaptation of Louise Penny’s Three Pines...
Sharon Hughff, who was previously Creative Director, Scripted Television at eOne in the UK, has been named Head of Television at Scott Free UK.
Reporting to Scott Free’s Cco David W Zucker, and President of Television, Clayton Krueger, Hughff will oversee development and production for the company’s slate of scripted programming out of London.
It comes two years after Hughff joined eOne from The Crown producer Left Bank, where she produced series including Netflix’s White Lines and Sky/Cinemax series Strike Back.
She most recently exec produced the adaptation of Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow for Paramount+ and Showtime, which premieres later this month. The series stars Ewan McGregor and was written by Ben Vanstone.
Previous credits at Left Bank, where she was an executive producer include an adaptation of Louise Penny’s Three Pines...
- 3/26/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Leslie Nielsen famously flipped his career 180 degrees when he started working with the Zuckers — David and Jerry — on the 1980 comedy Airplane! Nielsen was a seasoned dramatic actor who took his serious demeanor and used it to deliver the silliest of lines in a dry manner, resulting in some of the greatest comedy performances. Nielsen was able to become a leading man late in his career in The Naked Gun series, which would then spin him off into more leading roles in similar comedies, which would not necessarily be made by the Zuckers.
Enter Liam Neeson. The thespian has already reinvented himself when the former dramatic actor starred in 2008’s Taken, which showed that he could use his tall stature in the action genre. Neeson’s acting route would eventually land him in some comedy roles, including a self-parody guest spot on Life’s Too Short and working with Seth MacFarlane on...
Enter Liam Neeson. The thespian has already reinvented himself when the former dramatic actor starred in 2008’s Taken, which showed that he could use his tall stature in the action genre. Neeson’s acting route would eventually land him in some comedy roles, including a self-parody guest spot on Life’s Too Short and working with Seth MacFarlane on...
- 3/25/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
It was announced all the way back in 2022 that Paramount was going to be remaking "Naked Gun" with Liam Neeson as the star. There was little movement on the project in terms of additional cast members or a projected release window throughout all of 2023, leading many to believe the film had been scrapped or entered a new circle of Hollywood production hell. While many view the "Naked Gun" films as sacred comedy texts that dare not be remade, it's happening, and there's a pretty incredible team behind it. The "Naked Gun" films famously changed the trajectory of star Leslie Nielsen's career, so perhaps the new film could do the same for the gruff, action antics of Neeson. We're still quite a ways away from the release of the film, so here's everything you need to know about the upcoming remake.
Read more: The 15 Best Comedy Duos Of All Time...
Read more: The 15 Best Comedy Duos Of All Time...
- 3/6/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
The Naked Gun, also known as Police Squad!, is an American crime spoof-comedy franchise. Having started in 1982 with the TV series Police Squad! aired on the ABC Network, the franchise includes one TV series and three movies, adapted from an original story written by the comedy filmmaking trio Jim Abrahams, and brothers David and Jerry Zucker.
The lead role of Detective Sergeant Franklin ‘Frank’ Drebin in The Naked Gun is played by the late actor Leslie Nielsen. Several other characters appear in the films. One of them is Detective Fred Nordberg, who is portrayed by O. J. Simpson. Recently, creator David Zucker revealed why he had Simpson play the role of Nordberg.
A still from The Naked Gun (1988)
David Zucker on Why O. J. Simpson Was Cast in the Role of Detective Nordberg
O. J. Simpson is a former football running back who played in the NFL for 11 seasons. He...
The lead role of Detective Sergeant Franklin ‘Frank’ Drebin in The Naked Gun is played by the late actor Leslie Nielsen. Several other characters appear in the films. One of them is Detective Fred Nordberg, who is portrayed by O. J. Simpson. Recently, creator David Zucker revealed why he had Simpson play the role of Nordberg.
A still from The Naked Gun (1988)
David Zucker on Why O. J. Simpson Was Cast in the Role of Detective Nordberg
O. J. Simpson is a former football running back who played in the NFL for 11 seasons. He...
- 2/29/2024
- by Ankita
- FandomWire
It’s definite: there’s a new The Naked Gun film on the way, and Paramount has given it a summer 2025 release date. More here.
Well, this has been a long, long, long time coming. We’ve covered before Paramount Pictures’ attempt to get fourth The Naked Gun film moving. At first with the late Leslie Nielsen involved, and then after he passed, for a while it looked like Ed Helms was going to take on the lead role.
Now, it seems that Liam Neeson is to play the son of Nielsen’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin in whatever the new The Naked Gun movie ends up being called.
I’m one of many who’s not been won over yet by the idea of a new The Naked Gun film, but on the flip side, there are some positives. Notably the personnel behind the camera: Akiva Schaffer has previously directed...
Well, this has been a long, long, long time coming. We’ve covered before Paramount Pictures’ attempt to get fourth The Naked Gun film moving. At first with the late Leslie Nielsen involved, and then after he passed, for a while it looked like Ed Helms was going to take on the lead role.
Now, it seems that Liam Neeson is to play the son of Nielsen’s Lieutenant Frank Drebin in whatever the new The Naked Gun movie ends up being called.
I’m one of many who’s not been won over yet by the idea of a new The Naked Gun film, but on the flip side, there are some positives. Notably the personnel behind the camera: Akiva Schaffer has previously directed...
- 2/29/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Liam Neeson is going to try out a different particular set of skills. The “Taken” star will take a pratfall into slapstick comedy in an upcoming reboot of “The Naked Gun,” the supremely silly parody franchise about cops. On Wednesday, Paramount set a July 18, 2025 release date for the movie, Variety reports.
The film, which is currently untitled, will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, Emmy-winning director of “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and member of the musical comedy group The Lonely Island. Schaffer wrote the script with “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins (“Ted”) are producing through their company Fuzzy Door.
“The Naked Gun” franchise was created by the comedy team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker with the 1982 TV series “Police Squad!”, which starred Leslie Nielsen as a dimwitted detective named Frank Drebin.
The film, which is currently untitled, will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, Emmy-winning director of “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and member of the musical comedy group The Lonely Island. Schaffer wrote the script with “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins (“Ted”) are producing through their company Fuzzy Door.
“The Naked Gun” franchise was created by the comedy team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker with the 1982 TV series “Police Squad!”, which starred Leslie Nielsen as a dimwitted detective named Frank Drebin.
- 2/28/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
Paramount dropped a slew of new release dates today. Chief of which is a Naked Gun reboot starring Liam Neeson is set for July 18, 2025. Akiva Schaffer will direct and executive produce. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer, with whom they partnered on the Primetime Emmy-winning film, Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. Project is based off the Naked Gun movies and Police Squad! TV series from Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker.
Of note, as Deadline told you first, the Robbie Williams original music feature, Better Man from filmmaker Michael Gracey is getting a Christmas Day release this year with an expansion over MLK weekend of Jan. 17, 2025.
On March 14, 2025 next year’s it’s Novocaine from filmmakers Robert Olsen and Dan Berk and starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder. High concept action movie...
Of note, as Deadline told you first, the Robbie Williams original music feature, Better Man from filmmaker Michael Gracey is getting a Christmas Day release this year with an expansion over MLK weekend of Jan. 17, 2025.
On March 14, 2025 next year’s it’s Novocaine from filmmakers Robert Olsen and Dan Berk and starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder. High concept action movie...
- 2/28/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Naked Gun reboot is about to make 2025 a good year.
Paramount Pictures announced release dates Wednesday for a number of upcoming films. This includes director Akiva Schaffer’s new untitled installment in the Naked Gun comedy franchise hitting theaters July 28, 2025. The movie, first announced back in 2022, stars Liam Neeson and includes Seth MacFarlane as a producer.
The studio also announced that Paw Patrol 3 will launch July 31, 2026, as a follow-up to the studio’s September sequel Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie that topped $200 million globally. The new film hails from Spin Master Entertainment in association with Nickelodeon Movies. Another animation feature — director Jeff Rowe’s Tmnt 2 — is set for Oct. 9, 2026, as a follow-up to the filmmaker’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which came out last August and collected $180 million worldwide.
Among other titles landing on the studio’s calendar is Novocaine starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder, set...
Paramount Pictures announced release dates Wednesday for a number of upcoming films. This includes director Akiva Schaffer’s new untitled installment in the Naked Gun comedy franchise hitting theaters July 28, 2025. The movie, first announced back in 2022, stars Liam Neeson and includes Seth MacFarlane as a producer.
The studio also announced that Paw Patrol 3 will launch July 31, 2026, as a follow-up to the studio’s September sequel Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie that topped $200 million globally. The new film hails from Spin Master Entertainment in association with Nickelodeon Movies. Another animation feature — director Jeff Rowe’s Tmnt 2 — is set for Oct. 9, 2026, as a follow-up to the filmmaker’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which came out last August and collected $180 million worldwide.
Among other titles landing on the studio’s calendar is Novocaine starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder, set...
- 2/28/2024
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A long-gestating reboot of the “Naked Gun” franchise with Liam Neeson is finally moving forward at Paramount, landing a release date of July 18, 2025.
The currently untitled project will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the draft script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, reprising their partnership from the Emmy-winning film “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. The new movie is based off the widely popular “Naked Gun” franchise and television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
Meanwhile, two successful animated franchises’ next films have also been added to Paramount’s release schedule. “Paw Patrol 3,” a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, is slated for July 31, 2026 with distribution from Paramount Pictures. The follow-up to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” from director Jeff Rowe and produced by Point Grey Pictures...
The currently untitled project will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the draft script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, reprising their partnership from the Emmy-winning film “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. The new movie is based off the widely popular “Naked Gun” franchise and television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
Meanwhile, two successful animated franchises’ next films have also been added to Paramount’s release schedule. “Paw Patrol 3,” a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, is slated for July 31, 2026 with distribution from Paramount Pictures. The follow-up to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” from director Jeff Rowe and produced by Point Grey Pictures...
- 2/28/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Surely the making of one of the funniest movies ever made can’t be that serious…and it really isn’t! Ok, 1980’s Airplane! was a tough sell and there were minor clashes between the directors and Paramount and lawsuits from a rival studio threatened the casting of numerous stars. But there was also perfect against-type casting, clever workarounds to silly DGA regulations and a complete reinvention of the spoof movie, all of which made Airplane! one of the greatest comedies ever.. Oh, and there were fart machines, too!
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
- 2/14/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
It’s been five years since the last installment of The Terror, but season 3 is finally on the way.
AMC has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver, a six-part series based on the novel written by Victor Lavalle. The story follows Pepper, “a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets and perhaps even the very devil himself. As Pepper navigates a hellscape where nothing is as it seems, he finds that the only path to freedom is to face down the entity that thrives on the suffering within New Hyde’s walls. But doing so might prove that the worst demons of all live inside him.“
Related AMC is...
AMC has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver, a six-part series based on the novel written by Victor Lavalle. The story follows Pepper, “a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets and perhaps even the very devil himself. As Pepper navigates a hellscape where nothing is as it seems, he finds that the only path to freedom is to face down the entity that thrives on the suffering within New Hyde’s walls. But doing so might prove that the worst demons of all live inside him.“
Related AMC is...
- 2/7/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
AMC has ordered Season 3 of the supernatural anthology series “The Terror.”
The third installment of the series will be based on the novel “The Devil in Silver” by Victor Lavalle. AMC has ordered six episodes, with the series slated to debut on AMC and AMC+ in 2025.
Chris Cantwell, who previously worked on the AMC shows “Halt & Catch Fire” and “Lodge 49,” will write and executive produce the season alongside Lavalle. Karyn Kusama is attached to direct the first two episodes and executive produce the series. Additional executive producers are David Zucker of Scott Free, Alexandra Milchan of Emjag, Guymon Casady of Management 360, and Scott Lambert of Anjulia Productions. AMC Studios will produce.
“’The Terror’ anthology series has already delivered to fans two unforgettable seasons of storytelling that blend real-world events and characters with a terrifying and mysterious supernatural element,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks.
The third installment of the series will be based on the novel “The Devil in Silver” by Victor Lavalle. AMC has ordered six episodes, with the series slated to debut on AMC and AMC+ in 2025.
Chris Cantwell, who previously worked on the AMC shows “Halt & Catch Fire” and “Lodge 49,” will write and executive produce the season alongside Lavalle. Karyn Kusama is attached to direct the first two episodes and executive produce the series. Additional executive producers are David Zucker of Scott Free, Alexandra Milchan of Emjag, Guymon Casady of Management 360, and Scott Lambert of Anjulia Productions. AMC Studios will produce.
“’The Terror’ anthology series has already delivered to fans two unforgettable seasons of storytelling that blend real-world events and characters with a terrifying and mysterious supernatural element,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks.
- 2/6/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The Terror, one of AMC’s hit franchises, is returning to the network more than five years after its last season.
The network has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver as the third installment in the anthology series. It comes after Season 2 – The Terror: Infamy – premiered in 2019.
The six-part series premiering in 2025 is based on The Devil in Silver, a novel written by Victor Lavalle. He is writing the new iteration alongside Chris Cantwell, who who was showrunner on AMC’s 2014-17 drama Halt and Catch Fire.
Back in 2020, then AMC boss Sarah Barnett told Deadline that it was interested in a third run and was eyeing topics for development.
The Terror: Devil in Silver tells the story of Pepper, a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget.
The network has ordered The Terror: Devil in Silver as the third installment in the anthology series. It comes after Season 2 – The Terror: Infamy – premiered in 2019.
The six-part series premiering in 2025 is based on The Devil in Silver, a novel written by Victor Lavalle. He is writing the new iteration alongside Chris Cantwell, who who was showrunner on AMC’s 2014-17 drama Halt and Catch Fire.
Back in 2020, then AMC boss Sarah Barnett told Deadline that it was interested in a third run and was eyeing topics for development.
The Terror: Devil in Silver tells the story of Pepper, a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget.
- 2/6/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Following a nearly five-year absence, AMC is revisiting anthology The Terror for a third cycle.
The basic-cable network on Tuesday, ahead of its time at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, announced that the horror franchise will return for a third season and will be subtitled Devil in Silver, with the new cycle based on the book of the same name by Victor Lavalle.
The author will team with Chris Cantwell (AMC’s own Halt and Catch Fire) to write the six-episode season, which is expected to air on the cabler in 2025.
AMC says Devil in Silver “tells the story of Pepper — a working-class moving man, who through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital — an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets,...
The basic-cable network on Tuesday, ahead of its time at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, announced that the horror franchise will return for a third season and will be subtitled Devil in Silver, with the new cycle based on the book of the same name by Victor Lavalle.
The author will team with Chris Cantwell (AMC’s own Halt and Catch Fire) to write the six-episode season, which is expected to air on the cabler in 2025.
AMC says Devil in Silver “tells the story of Pepper — a working-class moving man, who through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital — an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets,...
- 2/6/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The joke that makes The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear great is relatively subtle. In fact, as a child, watching this movie over and over again, it went over my head. Only recently, after releasing the episode of Revisited dedicated to the original Naked Gun and discussing the sequels with a friend, did he clue me in on why the sequel is so funny. The whole point of the movie is that the bad guys, a conglomerate of nuclear, coal and oil industry baddies, want to prevent Richard Griffith’s Dr Meinheimer from presenting a speech to the president urging a change to the country’s oil policy. Meinheimer is kidnapped and replaced by a double to stop this speech from happening. Our hero, Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, has to save Meinheimer so he can present his speech, which he eventually does. But, the best...
- 2/4/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Fun trivia: one of the working titles for Wes Craven's 1996 slasher satire "Scream" was "Scary Movie." Filmmaker Keenan Ivory Wayans got wind of this trivia, and decided in 2000 to make a film called "Scary Movie" intended to satirize the popularity of "Scream." The late 1990s were a curious time in popular culture, as there weren't too many dominant horror trends. Popular music was beginning to comment on its own self-awareness (see: "Flagpole Sitta") and irony became ironic. Self-reflection went from a healthy Socratic exercise into a loop of eternal recurrence. By 2000, we became so busy commenting on our own commentaries, that it was hard to see where we started. This is where "Scary Movie" dropped in.
Make no mistake, "Scary Movie" is unfunny, as are its many sequels. They're cheap, homophobic, and vulgar. Wayans took his model from spoof filmmakers like Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker, but aimed to make something...
Make no mistake, "Scary Movie" is unfunny, as are its many sequels. They're cheap, homophobic, and vulgar. Wayans took his model from spoof filmmakers like Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker, but aimed to make something...
- 1/31/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Seth Macfarlane has confirmed that the new The Naked Gun has survived the chaos of last year’s strikes and is still in development.
In 2021, it was announced that Seth Macfarlane would be taking on a reboot/remake of The Naked Gun films, the beloved police spoofs that starred the great Leslie Nielsen (for which there was once an official fourth movie planned too – we wrote about here). None other than Liam Neeson was attached to star (after Ed Helms had been linked for years) and we all sat back to see just what would unfold.
Even Liam Neeson himself seemed somewhat bemused by the turn of events, stating “It’ll either finish my career or bring it in another direction. I honestly don’t know.”
Things moved pretty slowly throughout 2022 and then in 2023 we had months of chaos as the strikes in Hollywood sank lots of projects that were in development.
In 2021, it was announced that Seth Macfarlane would be taking on a reboot/remake of The Naked Gun films, the beloved police spoofs that starred the great Leslie Nielsen (for which there was once an official fourth movie planned too – we wrote about here). None other than Liam Neeson was attached to star (after Ed Helms had been linked for years) and we all sat back to see just what would unfold.
Even Liam Neeson himself seemed somewhat bemused by the turn of events, stating “It’ll either finish my career or bring it in another direction. I honestly don’t know.”
Things moved pretty slowly throughout 2022 and then in 2023 we had months of chaos as the strikes in Hollywood sank lots of projects that were in development.
- 1/8/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Riggs and Murtagh. Tango and Cash. Starsky and Hutch. John McClane. Frank Bullitt. Dirty Harry Callahan. While those are all tough movie cops, none of them are as hard as nails was perhaps the toughest, most dangerous movie cop of all time… Frank Drebin as played by Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Jump back to 1980. Leslie Nielsen was a character actor known for playing deadpan, ultra-serious roles. He was typically the bad guy of the week on TV shows and TV movies, and his biggest claim to fame was playing the captain in 1956s Forbidden Planet. His career was middling; David Zucker, Jim Abrams and Jerry Zucker, aka Zaz – Zucker-Abrams-Zucker – wanted to cast him in their movie Airplane. He would play the third lead, a deadpan doctor who would perfectly ape similar roles he played in movies like The Poseidon Adventure. While the studio initially balked,...
Jump back to 1980. Leslie Nielsen was a character actor known for playing deadpan, ultra-serious roles. He was typically the bad guy of the week on TV shows and TV movies, and his biggest claim to fame was playing the captain in 1956s Forbidden Planet. His career was middling; David Zucker, Jim Abrams and Jerry Zucker, aka Zaz – Zucker-Abrams-Zucker – wanted to cast him in their movie Airplane. He would play the third lead, a deadpan doctor who would perfectly ape similar roles he played in movies like The Poseidon Adventure. While the studio initially balked,...
- 1/2/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Writer Pat Proft says he’s “blocked” from Naked Gun 4, as he and director David Zucker discuss the planned sequel.
The original The Naked Gun film, starring the much-missed Leslie Nielsen, is remarkably celebrating its 35th birthday. And The Hollywood Reporter has celebrated in time honoured fashioned by chatting to some of the team behind it.
Specifically, co-writer and director David Zucker, and co-writer Pat Proft.
The full piece is here, and there’s much to munch on for the (many) fans of the original film. But towards the end, talk turns to the planned fourth Naked Gun film, that Paramount has in development.
The current plan for Naked Gun 4, which it won’t be called, is for Liam Neeson to play Frank Drebin, with Seth McFarlane producing and the terrific Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) directing.
See also: Naked Gun 4 | The story of the lost sequel, featuring...
The original The Naked Gun film, starring the much-missed Leslie Nielsen, is remarkably celebrating its 35th birthday. And The Hollywood Reporter has celebrated in time honoured fashioned by chatting to some of the team behind it.
Specifically, co-writer and director David Zucker, and co-writer Pat Proft.
The full piece is here, and there’s much to munch on for the (many) fans of the original film. But towards the end, talk turns to the planned fourth Naked Gun film, that Paramount has in development.
The current plan for Naked Gun 4, which it won’t be called, is for Liam Neeson to play Frank Drebin, with Seth McFarlane producing and the terrific Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) directing.
See also: Naked Gun 4 | The story of the lost sequel, featuring...
- 12/22/2023
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Created by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, the TV series Police Squad! only ran for six episodes back in 1982, but it spawned a popular film franchise that so far consists of three films: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 21⁄2: The Smell of Fear, and Naked Gun 331⁄3: The Final Insult, all three of which had Pat Proft on board as a screenwriter. When it was announced that a straight-to-video sequel called The Naked Gun 4: Rhythm of Evil was moving ahead in 2009 with none of the original creative team involved, that original creative team didn’t react well. That movie didn’t make it into production, but now that a reboot of The Naked Gun is moving forward at Paramount with Akiva Schaffer set to direct the film from a screenplay by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Mark Hentemann, Alec Sulkin, and producer Seth MacFarlane,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
‘Naked Gun’ Turns 35: Team on Adapting Failed TV Series, Leslie Nielsen’s Magic, Reboot Frustrations
Turning a short-lived parody TV series into a feature film was always going to involve taking a chance, but as the team behind the Naked Gun franchise learned, it wasn’t quite on the level of sticking your face in a fan.
Following the breakout success of the 1980 smash hit Airplane!, that film’s writer-director team — David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker — found themselves grounded when ABC promptly canceled their police-spoofing show Police Squad! in 1982. But the series’ co-creators refused to let the concept die and went on to adapt it for The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which Paramount Pictures released theatrically on Dec. 2, 1988. The movie, featuring Leslie Nielsen reprising his Police Squad! lead role as accident-prone police lieutenant Frank Drebin, also starred Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy and O. J. Simpson.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Naked Gun film that...
Following the breakout success of the 1980 smash hit Airplane!, that film’s writer-director team — David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker — found themselves grounded when ABC promptly canceled their police-spoofing show Police Squad! in 1982. But the series’ co-creators refused to let the concept die and went on to adapt it for The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which Paramount Pictures released theatrically on Dec. 2, 1988. The movie, featuring Leslie Nielsen reprising his Police Squad! lead role as accident-prone police lieutenant Frank Drebin, also starred Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy and O. J. Simpson.
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Naked Gun film that...
- 12/21/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
Everyone here at /Film loves watching movies and TV shows. But every now and then, you need a break from the screens. However, that doesn't mean you can't still bask in the glory of moving pictures. There's an endless array of books out there about your favorite movies and TV shows. Whether it's the story of the two most famous film critics ever, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, a chronicle of the making of movies like Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" or the screwball comedy spoof "Airplane!," memoirs from your favorite stars like Patrick Stewart and Barbra Streisand, an exhausting timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or a cookbook with recipes straight from the "Star Wars" universe, we've got a huge collection of books for the film and TV lover in your life.
So let's dig into Part 2 of the 2023 /Film Holiday Gift Guide now!
- 11/21/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Chicago – Use the word “surely” in any conversation, such as “Surely …” and inevitably you’ll get the answer, “Blah Blah, and don’t call me Shirley.” One of a trio that came up with that famous riposte, David Zucker, was at the Chicago Humanities Festival as co-author of “Surely you Can’t be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!”
The book was written with the other two members of the legendary movie comedy creators nicknamed Zaz … for (David) Zucker, (Jim) Abrahams and (Jerry) Zucker. In 1980, the trio wrote and directed one of the most influential comedy movies of their generation, the deliciously funny farce “Airplane!,” forever changing comic sensibilities and satire. The book is a look back to a different time and place in American entertainment, and David Zucker appeared on its behalf as part of the ongoing Fall Chicago Humanities Festival on October 21st, 2023.
David Zucker and His Book...
The book was written with the other two members of the legendary movie comedy creators nicknamed Zaz … for (David) Zucker, (Jim) Abrahams and (Jerry) Zucker. In 1980, the trio wrote and directed one of the most influential comedy movies of their generation, the deliciously funny farce “Airplane!,” forever changing comic sensibilities and satire. The book is a look back to a different time and place in American entertainment, and David Zucker appeared on its behalf as part of the ongoing Fall Chicago Humanities Festival on October 21st, 2023.
David Zucker and His Book...
- 10/27/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Airplane! took Hollywood by storm in 1980, and there’s never been anything like it ever since! Well, actually, there have been a lot of movies like it ever since… and that’s kind of the point. Airplane! was so funny and so influential that dozens, if not hundreds, of films have tried very hard to do what Airplane! seemingly did so effortlessly. But there was plenty of work that went into making Airplane! one of the funniest movies of all time, ranked #10 on the American Film Institute’s list of Hollywood’s top comedies, and there’s a new book — Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! — that gives insight into how it was made. David Zucker, part of the Zaz team that directed Airplane!, once told us there was one decision they made as directors that changed the entire trajectory of the film. (Click on...
- 10/16/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Exclusive: Airplane! writer-directors David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker are teaming up with a cast of celebrities and industry figures to chronicle the making of the influential hit 1980 comedy.
Audiobook Surely You Can’t Be Serious will be narrated by the trio of filmmakers alongside comedians and actors Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Hader, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Molly Shannon, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt and Beau Bridges, and industry including John Landis, Barry Diller and Michael Eisner. It will also include contributions from original Airplane! cast members Bob Hays and Julie Hagerty.
Airplane! premiered on July 2, 1980. With a budget of $3.5M, it went on to make more than $80M at the box office. The slapstick comedy sees a neurotic ex-fighter pilot have to land a commercial airplane after the crew becomes sick with food poisoning.
The audiobook will also chart the story of the Zaz trio, charting the rise...
Audiobook Surely You Can’t Be Serious will be narrated by the trio of filmmakers alongside comedians and actors Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Hader, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Molly Shannon, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt and Beau Bridges, and industry including John Landis, Barry Diller and Michael Eisner. It will also include contributions from original Airplane! cast members Bob Hays and Julie Hagerty.
Airplane! premiered on July 2, 1980. With a budget of $3.5M, it went on to make more than $80M at the box office. The slapstick comedy sees a neurotic ex-fighter pilot have to land a commercial airplane after the crew becomes sick with food poisoning.
The audiobook will also chart the story of the Zaz trio, charting the rise...
- 9/27/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
"I want to venture out, take risks." Greenwich Entertainment has also revealed an official trailer for Your Friend, Memphis, a documentary film from filmmaker David Zucker about his friend Memphis. It first premiered at the last year's SXSW Film Festival and will be out on VOD this fall. Shot over five years, the film is "an intimate portrait of Memphis' dogged determination: to bridge the distance between the world's expectations and his own aspirations." An invigorating look that makes you rethink what it means to really live. Memphis, a young man with cerebral palsy, is caught between the world's expectations and his own ambitions. His story is an odyssey of tenacity: a search for work, love, and freedom – no matter what. This sounds wonderfully inspiring! A struggle to find yourself and define yourself without limitations, whatever it takes. This a riveting, unconventional trailer that will hopefully get the attention of a few interested viewers.
- 8/11/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Graphic: Paramount Pictures
Even if you’ve never seen a single film by the writing and directing team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz), surely you’re familiar with the ubiquitous references to their work in popular culture. And if you just read that...
Even if you’ve never seen a single film by the writing and directing team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz), surely you’re familiar with the ubiquitous references to their work in popular culture. And if you just read that...
- 8/3/2023
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Once upon a time, in a world not so far away, if you wanted to make a phone call, you would have to find a claustrophobic box that housed the invention of Antonio Meucci, Elisha Gray and the one who actually owns the patent on the invention: Alexander Graham Bell: We’re talking of course about the Telephone. For many of you the idea that you couldn’t just reach into your pocket and grab your own personal device that allows you to communicate with anyone and everyone on this big blue planet is unfathomable, yet as recently as just twenty years ago, the sight of someone walking on a street talking to themselves was actually quite the peculiar spectacle. It is with that bit of knowledge that an idea thought up in the 60’s was given a modern day twist to focus on the last remaining telephone kiosk...
- 7/17/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
After playing exclusively in theaters for a week, specifically attached to prints for Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City,” the first trailer for “Drive-Away Dolls” has been offered up for online consumption. Anyone checking out Focus Features’ 1950s-set sci-fi comedy in multiplexes this weekend will likely get a theatrical helping of this one too, but you can watch it above instead.
Directed by Ethan Coen, but not alongside Joel Coen, the road-trip crime romp was written by Coen and Tricia Cooke. It stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp and (in what seems to be another in a long line of just-for-fun cameos) Matt Damon.
This comedy caper follows Jamie (Qualley), an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian (Viswanathan) who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee,...
Directed by Ethan Coen, but not alongside Joel Coen, the road-trip crime romp was written by Coen and Tricia Cooke. It stars Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp and (in what seems to be another in a long line of just-for-fun cameos) Matt Damon.
This comedy caper follows Jamie (Qualley), an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian (Viswanathan) who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee,...
- 6/23/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson will receive the best comedy person award at the upcoming Just For Laughs ComedyPro conference, organizers said Thursday.
Brunson, who also stars in her mockumentary spin on an underserved Philadelphia grammar school in the ABC comedy, will be in Montreal for the honor after she was part of the Jfl’s New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
And Bert Kreischer will pick up the best stand-up comic prize at the Montreal festival after his latest comedy special, Razzle Dazzle, debuted on Netflix. Also a veteran of Jfl, Kreischer starred in and produced The Machine, a movie based on his own experiences with Russian mobsters on a college trip.
The ComedyPro conference, which will hold its awards show on July 28, will also give Ronny Chieng the breakout comedy star of the year trophy, while Feel Good star Mae Martin will receive the rising comedy star of the year prize.
Brunson, who also stars in her mockumentary spin on an underserved Philadelphia grammar school in the ABC comedy, will be in Montreal for the honor after she was part of the Jfl’s New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
And Bert Kreischer will pick up the best stand-up comic prize at the Montreal festival after his latest comedy special, Razzle Dazzle, debuted on Netflix. Also a veteran of Jfl, Kreischer starred in and produced The Machine, a movie based on his own experiences with Russian mobsters on a college trip.
The ComedyPro conference, which will hold its awards show on July 28, will also give Ronny Chieng the breakout comedy star of the year trophy, while Feel Good star Mae Martin will receive the rising comedy star of the year prize.
- 6/22/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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