Akiva Schaffer on the Solo O.J. Simpson Joke in The Naked Gun Reboot
Director Akiva Schaffer, helming the 2025 legacy sequel to *The Naked Gun*, recently opened up about why the film includes exactly one joke referencing O.J. Simpson’s Nordberg character from the original trilogy. In a new interview with People and The Hollywood Reporter, Schaffer explained the joke was a deliberate and respectful acknowledgment of the “elephant in the room.”
A Single Joke Was All That Was Needed
When asked about how he planned to handle Simpson’s controversial legacy, Schaffer remarked: “When I first told friends, ‘Hey, I’m about to write a Naked Gun,’ they’d ask, ‘What are you going to do about O.J.?’. I realized that was the elephant in the room that needed addressing.” The result was a brief, clever gag: in the film’s trailer and the Hall of Legends scene, Nordberg Jr. (Moses Jones) silently shakes his head at a portrait of his father, while other officers hallucinate emotional tributes. Schaffer said, “That takes care of it.”
Balancing Humor and Sensitivity
Schaffer admitted he didn’t expect the joke to land so well: “I didn’t know it would kill as hard as it did at our first test screening. If I had known, maybe I would’ve written more jokes.” But as he emphasized, “You want to be respectful of everything that revolves around him, so it’s not something I took glee in.” The creative team intentionally avoided any further O.J. references to keep the tone respectful and avoid exploitation.
Context: A Built-In Dilemma
O.J. Simpson portrayed Detective Nordberg in the original Naked Gun trilogy (1988–1994), before his infamous trial in 1995. Given his presence in earlier films, ignoring him entirely would have felt disingenuous. Schaffer’s team chose to briefly acknowledge his character rather than erase him or treat the topic as fodder for cheap laughs. This subtle choice reflects a larger effort to honor the spoof legacy while recognizing modern sensitivities.
Test Screenings and Editing Decisions
According to Schaffer, the film was originally scripted to have more edgy jokes, but many were cut late in editing. “The movie runs just 83 minutes,” he said, likening it to the concise runtime of both tradition and efficiency. Scripts that didn’t land humorously or felt insensitive were omitted. The single O.J. joke survived because it felt necessary, not mocking.
Reception and Franchise Legacy
The reboot, starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., has earned positive early reviews for maintaining the slapstick style of the original while modernizing the tone. Co‑producer Seth MacFarlane has said the film merges absurdity with sincerity, and early endorsements from Lonely Island co‑creator Andy Samberg signal goodwill from the original creative team. Meanwhile, David Zucker—co-creator of the original series—has criticized the reboot, calling it lacking freshness but acknowledging the respectful approach towards sensitive material.
Why This Matters for Spoof Comedy
- Acknowledging legacy while moving beyond controversies.
- One joke strikes balance between recognition and sensitivity.
- Shows Schaffer’s respect for the original franchise and modern audiences.
By choosing restraint over repetition, Schaffer and the writing team made a creative decision that both honors the original *Naked Gun* and respects broader cultural sensibilities. This single joke isn’t just comedic—it’s a lesson in tasteful rebooting.
Sources: People (Today release), The Hollywood Reporter
