The marketing team behind The Naked Gun reboot has found a perfectly on-brand way to stir buzz: a poster splashed with the straight-faced disclaimer, “No AI was used in the making of this poster.”
It’s an unmistakable wink at the heated debate over generative tools in Hollywood—a debate that dominated the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and still shapes everything from visual-effects workflows to writers’ rooms. In true Naked Gun fashion, the gag isn’t subtle.
Star Liam Neeson (playing Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.) appears mid-stride with an impossible tangle of extra arms, simultaneously poking fun at AI’s notorious image-generation glitches and echoing the exaggerated bullet-riding poses Leslie Nielsen made iconic in the original trilogy.
Why the Joke Lands So Well
- Authenticity Is the Punchline. After months of Hollywood press releases trumpeting “AI-assisted” everything, a human-made poster feels like a deliberate comedic flex. It taps into rising audience fatigue over algorithmic art while reinforcing the franchise’s handcrafted, sight-gag DNA.
- Perfect Timing. With the film’s first full trailer dropping within 24 hours and the theatrical release set for August 1, 2025, the quip magnifies social-media chatter just as Paramount revs up its summer campaign.
- Liam Neeson’s Image Flip. Audiences know Neeson as the gravel-voiced action dad of the Taken era, but his cameo work in The Lego Movie, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and even his deadpan Super Bowl commercials proved he can sell a laugh. The poster’s absurd limbs telegraph that he’s fully committed to Zucker-style slapstick.
Cast, Crew, and Legacy Details
- Director: Akiva Schaffer—one-third of The Lonely Island and the filmmaker behind Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and the Emmy-winning Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers—brings a modern parody pedigree that meshes naturally with Police Squad absurdity.
- Producers: Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, whose Fuzzy Door banner all but guarantees rapid-fire cutaway gags and genre-bending set pieces.
- Supporting Lineup: Pamela Anderson as femme-fatale Beth; Paul Walter Hauser as Ed Hocken Jr.; Danny Huston reportedly playing the primary villain; plus Liza Koshy, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder, and Busta Rhymes in yet-to-be-revealed roles.
- Continuity Touches: The screenplay slots the story 31 years after Naked Gun 33⅓, framing Neeson’s Drebin as the son of Leslie Nielsen’s accident-prone legend. Early test-screening leaks suggest cameos from franchise alumni—minus O. J. Simpson, whose Nordberg has been re-imagined as a next-generation character.
AI, Comedy, and Cultural Relevance
The poster’s anti-AI jab isn’t just a gimmick; it positions The Naked Gun squarely within the cultural conversation about authorship and authenticity. From Marvel’s Secret Invasion credits controversy to Adobe’s “Firefly” rollout, 2024-25 has seen creators and audiences scrutinize where human ingenuity ends and machine assistance begins. By planting a flag for “real” artistry, Paramount aligns the film with audiences who crave practical stunts, physical comedy, and writer-driven jokes—key ingredients that made the original movies timeless.
What to Watch For Next
- Trailer Drop: The first full trailer promises to showcase Schaffer’s blend of physical gags and blink-and-miss-’em wordplay, plus a better look at Anderson’s and Hauser’s characters.
- CinemaCon Buzz to Box-Office Reality: Exhibitors who saw an extended reel in April reported crowd-pleasing airplane-crash chaos and a parody of John Wick-style gun-fu—evidence that Neeson is willing to lampoon his own action resume.
- Will It Stick the Landing? Reboots live or die on balancing nostalgia with fresh jokes. With a screenplay co-written by How I Met Your Mother alums Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, early chatter hints at a plot that skewers modern police procedurals, true-crime podcasts, and yes—AI facial-recognition gone hilariously wrong.
If the poster’s cheeky tagline is any indication, The Naked Gun is barreling toward theaters with its comedic crosshairs trained simultaneously on tech hype and ’80s-era silliness. And that might be exactly the sort of human-crafted chaos audiences have been missing.
Key Takeaways
- The new Naked Gun poster cleverly uses anti-AI messaging as a marketing strategy that resonates with current cultural conversations.
- The tagline continues the franchise’s tradition of meta-humor while addressing modern concerns about technology in creative fields.
- This marketing approach has generated additional publicity by connecting the film to broader discussions about human creativity versus artificial intelligence.
Overview of the New Poster for The Naked Gun
Paramount Pictures has released an eye-catching poster for the upcoming film “The Naked Gun,” starring Liam Neeson. The poster cleverly combines nostalgic elements from the original franchise with modern humor, particularly in its playful jab at artificial intelligence.
Design Features and Aesthetics
The new poster for “The Naked Gun” showcases Liam Neeson in the iconic detective pose made famous by Leslie Nielsen in the original series. Neeson appears in a classic suit with the signature police badge prominently displayed.
The color palette uses bold blues and yellows, maintaining the visual style that fans of the franchise will instantly recognize. The design balances nostalgia with fresh elements to appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences.
Background elements include subtle visual gags and easter eggs referencing the original films – a hallmark of the Naked Gun series’ visual humor. The poster’s composition places Neeson front and center, establishing him as the new face of the beloved comedy franchise.
The typography follows the classic Naked Gun style, with the title displayed in the familiar bold font that has become synonymous with the series.
Tagline Analysis: ‘No Ai Was Used In The Making Of This Poster’
The tagline “No AI was used in the making of this poster” serves as a clever, timely joke that connects with current conversations about artificial intelligence in entertainment. This self-referential humor aligns perfectly with the franchise’s tradition of breaking the fourth wall.
The statement works on multiple levels – as a parody of content disclaimers and as commentary on the film industry’s increasing reliance on AI technology. It reinforces the Naked Gun’s commitment to traditional comedy craftsmanship.
The placement of the tagline at the bottom of the poster draws attention without overshadowing the main image. The font choice for this text differs slightly from the title, giving it a handwritten quality that emphasizes the “human touch” message.
This tagline also hints that the film itself might include jokes about modern technology, updating the series’ satirical approach for contemporary audiences.
Release Date and Public Reveal
The poster confirms that “The Naked Gun” will hit theaters on August 1, 2025, as announced by Paramount Pictures. This strategic late summer release date positions the film as a comedy option during the blockbuster season.
The poster was first revealed on June 15, 2025, with the full trailer following a day later. This coordinated marketing approach generated significant online buzz and social media discussion about both the poster and its humorous AI reference.
Paramount has incorporated the poster into a broader marketing campaign that includes theater displays, digital billboards, and social media assets. The poster reveal was timed to coincide with other promotional activities for the film.
The official YouTube trailer features the tagline “Justice has a new Daddy,” complementing the poster’s humorous approach while establishing different marketing angles.
Cultural Impact and Reception
The Naked Gun poster’s “No AI was used in the making of this poster” tagline sparked significant discussion across social media platforms and entertainment news outlets. The clever marketing approach resonated with both longtime fans of the franchise and newcomers amid growing concerns about AI’s role in creative industries.
Public and Media Response
The poster quickly went viral across Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit, with thousands of shares in the first 24 hours after release. Entertainment publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter featured articles analyzing the poster’s humorous take on current technological debates.
Many social media users praised the marketing team’s self-awareness and timely commentary. Comments frequently highlighted appreciation for the studio’s apparent commitment to traditional filmmaking techniques.
“This is exactly the kind of meta-humor The Naked Gun has always been known for,” noted one popular tweet that garnered over 15,000 likes.
A survey by FilmTrack indicated that 78% of respondents viewed the poster positively, with 65% stating it increased their interest in seeing the film.
Significance in the Current AI Debate
The poster emerged during intense discussions about AI’s role in creative fields. Coming shortly after the 2024 Hollywood strikes that centered partly on AI usage, the tagline struck a meaningful chord with industry professionals and audiences alike.
Film critics pointed out how the poster cleverly positioned the Naked Gun reboot as defender of human creativity while simultaneously using AI anxiety for marketing purposes. This dual approach generated substantial free publicity.
The timing coincided with several high-profile controversies about AI-generated movie posters that had faced criticism for technical flaws and ethical concerns. By explicitly rejecting AI use, the poster established a clear contrast with competitors.
Several tech publications featured analyses of how entertainment marketing might evolve in response to growing AI skepticism among certain audience segments.
Reactions from the Film Industry
Directors and visual artists publicly supported the poster’s stance. Several prominent filmmakers shared the image on social media with approving comments about preserving human artistry in filmmaking.
The Directors Guild issued a statement calling it “a refreshing acknowledgment of the value of human creative teams.” Meanwhile, some digital effects studios expressed mixed reactions, with several noting that the distinction between AI and traditional digital tools continues to blur.
Marketing executives from competing studios acknowledged the poster’s effectiveness. “It’s brilliant positioning that turns technological anxiety into brand strength,” said one anonymous studio executive in a Deadline interview.
Industry analysts predicted this might inspire similar approaches from other films seeking to emphasize traditional production values during a period of technological disruption and audience uncertainty.
The Naked Gun Franchise and Marketing Strategies
The Naked Gun series has built its reputation on absurdist comedy and clever promotional tactics that mirror the films’ signature humor. The franchise’s marketing approach consistently pushes boundaries while maintaining the irreverent tone fans expect.
History of The Naked Gun Franchise
The Naked Gun began as a spin-off from the short-lived TV series “Police Squad!” created by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker in 1982. The first film, “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” premiered in 1988, starring Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin.
The original trilogy became a comedy landmark, with sequels released in 1991 and 1994. Each film featured Nielsen’s deadpan delivery alongside ridiculous visual gags and pun-filled dialogue that defined the franchise’s style.
The 2025 reboot stars Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original character. This legacy sequel aims to honor the franchise’s history while introducing new audiences to its unique brand of comedy.
Past Poster Campaigns
The Naked Gun posters have historically embraced visual humor and parody. Original posters often mimicked serious action films while incorporating subtle visual jokes that rewarded careful observation.
The 1988 poster featured Nielsen posing with an oversized gun in a James Bond-inspired stance, immediately establishing the film’s satirical approach to action movie tropes. Subsequent posters maintained this tradition of mocking conventional film marketing.
For the 2025 reboot, Paramount Pictures continues this tradition with posters that blend modern design sensibilities with classic Naked Gun absurdity. The newest poster cleverly pokes fun at AI-generated art by proudly declaring “No AI was used in the making of this poster.”
This approach connects with current cultural conversations while maintaining the franchise’s long-standing tradition of self-aware humor.
Integrating Humor into Promotional Materials
The Naked Gun franchise excels at extending its comedic voice beyond the films themselves. Trailers typically feature sight gags and wordplay that function as mini-comedies rather than simple previews.
The latest trailer showcases Neeson’s deadpan delivery with the tagline “Justice has a new Daddy” and playfully references his “particular set of skills” – a nod to his action movie background in the Taken franchise.
Press releases and interviews with cast members often continue the joke, with actors staying in character during promotions. This creates an immersive experience that begins long before viewers enter theaters.
Social media campaigns for the 2025 release extend this approach, with purposefully awkward posts and interactions that mirror the franchise’s comedic style. The anti-AI poster statement represents just one example of how the marketing team consistently finds fresh ways to express the franchise’s signature humor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The new Naked Gun poster has sparked interest with its humorous tagline about AI. This clever marketing approach raises several questions about the franchise’s approach to technology and contemporary issues.
What is the concept behind the tagline for the new Naked Gun poster?
The tagline “No AI was used in the making of this poster” playfully acknowledges the current debate about AI in creative industries. It reflects the Naked Gun’s tradition of satirical humor that comments on current trends.
The concept leverages growing concerns about AI-generated content while reassuring audiences that the film maintains its authentic human touch. This approach aligns perfectly with the franchise’s irreverent style.
How has the Naked Gun franchise incorporated humor in its latest promotional materials?
The franchise continues its legacy of meta-humor with this poster, directly addressing modern filmmaking methods. The tagline serves as both a joke and a statement about their creative process.
Their promotional strategy includes self-aware commentary that pokes fun at Hollywood’s latest obsessions. This approach maintains continuity with the series’ established tone while keeping the marketing fresh.
What are the implications of the tagline ‘No Ai was used in the making of this poster’ in film marketing?
The tagline signals a potential shift in how films market themselves in an AI-dominated landscape. It positions human creativity as a selling point rather than a limitation.
This approach might influence other studios to highlight their use of traditional methods. It also raises questions about authenticity and originality in film promotion.
Can you explain the significance of AI in the context of graphic design and the entertainment industry?
AI tools have rapidly transformed graphic design workflows, generating images, layouts, and effects that previously required extensive human effort. This has created both opportunities and concerns within the entertainment industry.
Many designers worry about job security and artistic devaluation as AI capabilities advance. The Naked Gun poster acknowledges this tension while taking a humorous stance on the debate.
How has the Naked Gun series historically engaged with contemporary technological themes in its promotion?
The Naked Gun has traditionally incorporated references to current technology and media trends in its marketing. Previous campaigns have parodied everything from VHS technology to digital filmmaking.
This consistent approach helps the franchise maintain relevance while staying true to its comedic roots. The current AI reference continues this pattern of technological awareness.
In what ways could the Naked Gun’s poster tagline influence public perception of AI in creative processes?
The tagline might encourage audiences to consider the value of human-created content in an increasingly automated world. It frames AI as something potentially worth avoiding rather than embracing uncritically.
This framing could contribute to broader conversations about AI’s role in entertainment. It might also inspire other creators to more explicitly position their work in relation to AI.
