The Naked Gun

When I first sat down with the director to talk about the score for The Naked Gun, he told me one thing right away: the music had to feel honest. That set the tone for everything that followed. No matter how absurd the scenes got, the score needed to treat them seriously — especially the action. We weren’t playing for laughs; the music had to sell the drama, because that’s what makes the comedy land.

I grew up loving The Naked Gun and Police Squad! — they were a big part of my childhood. Ira Newborn’s original theme is iconic, and I really wanted to honour that noir-inspired, brassy sound while bringing a fresh energy for today’s audience. That contrast — serious music underscoring ridiculous situations — is what makes this world so fun to play in.