Naked Gun Reboot Scores Big with Neeson and Anderson's Budding Romance

The Naked Gun franchise has been revived, and the new installment starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson has opened to mostly positive reviews and a strong box office performance. Akiva Schaffer, a member of the Lonely Island comedy trio, served as a writer and producer on the project, and he recently shared insights into the process of bringing the iconic comedy series back to life.

Schaffer acknowledges that comedies, especially spoof films, have faced an uphill battle in recent years, with audiences not as reliably drawn to the genre as they once were. However, the Naked Gun reboot managed to avoid the harsh criticism that has plagued many similar films, with Schaffer expressing relief that the reviews were either very positive or at least fair in their assessment.

One of the more intriguing elements of the film was Pamela Anderson's jazz scat number, which originally included a nod to the Super Mario Bros. theme. Schaffer reveals that while they had to ultimately remove the video game reference due to licensing issues, the final version of the scene ended up being even funnier.

The film also features cameos from several familiar faces, including Priscilla Presley, who reprises her role from the original Naked Gun movies. Schaffer explains that they were careful to ensure Presley's appearance was a quick, easy cameo, not wanting to burden her with extensive travel or filming.

Additionally, the budding romance between Neeson and Anderson, which has captured the public's imagination, was not something Schaffer necessarily planned for, but he's happy to see the two stars generating such interest and attention for the film.