Kelsey Grammer Eyes Down Periscope Sequel Despite Original’s Poor Reception

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Kelsey Grammer has played many memorable characters, and he’d especially like to revisit his role in a potential sequel to the 1996 comedy, Down Periscope. In the film, Grammer starred as Tom Dodge, a Navy officer determined to prove himself as a submarine captain. When his career is jeopardized, he’s given the challenge of fixing up an old World War II submarine and leading a mismatched crew in a naval exercise.

Despite featuring a talented cast including Lauren Holly, Bruce Dern, William H. Macy, and Rob Schneider, the 1996 comedy Down Periscope wasn’t a hit with audiences or critics. It received very negative reviews, earning only an 11% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and barely made back its $31 million budget, grossing just $37.5 million.

In a recent interview with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant about his new movie, Turbulence, Kelsey Grammer mentioned he’d be open to making another Down Periscope film. When asked about characters he’d like to play again, the Emmy-winning actor first brought up his role as Tom Kane from the Starz series Boss, but explained that it likely wouldn’t happen because too many original producers would need to be involved, making it financially impractical.

I’m not certain, but I’d be very interested in returning to that role. He was a fantastic character, and it would be wonderful to give him a proper send-off. The show’s production became complicated, and we unfortunately never finished the story. Completing it would have been the best outcome for both the character and the overall narrative.

Kelsey Grammer mentioned Down Periscope as a film he’d be interested in revisiting. He admitted his character, Tom Dodge, isn’t quite like the iconic Maverick or Tom Cruise himself, describing Dodge as “a guy who likes being under the surface.” Given ongoing fears of nuclear attack, Grammer added that Dodge “knows what to do.” Grammer even hinted he has ideas for a sequel, believing it “might be really fun.”

While it’s true that Down Periscope and Top Gun both focus on the military, comparing the films doesn’t help the case for a Down Periscope sequel. The 1996 comedy struggled to earn back its production costs internationally, unlike Top Gun, which was the biggest box office hit of 1986.

Even a quick glance at the cast of Top Gun reminds us of how much the film boosted Tom Cruise’s career after his early success in Risky Business, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Meanwhile, Down Periscope marked Kelsey Grammer’s first big movie role during his popular run on Cheers and Frasier, but it, like many of his films, wasn’t well-received by critics.

I really want to see another Down Periscope movie, but it’s tough to get my hopes up. The film was made by 20th Century Fox, and since Disney took over, they’ve definitely changed what kinds of movies they’re making. They’re focusing much more on big, blockbuster films – things like the new Predator and Alien movies, the Avatar series, and The First Omen. They just don’t seem to be releasing as many comedies as they used to, which makes it harder to believe a sequel to a comedy like Down Periscope will ever happen.

Despite moving away from comedies overall, they’ve still had some successes. For example, Vacation Friends, starring John Cena and Lil Rel Howery, was Hulu’s biggest original film when it premiered and led to a follow-up movie. Similarly, Quiz Lady, with Awkwafina and Sandra Oh, won an Emmy Award. With a compelling idea, Kelsey Grammer might be able to convince 20th Century Studios to create a streaming sequel to Down Periscope.

Beyond Kelsey Grammer’s interest, the recent success of comedy sequels is another reason a Down Periscope follow-up could happen. In 2025, films like Freakier Friday—which earned over $153 million by tapping into nostalgia—and Naked Gun, which overcame years of development issues to become the highest-rated film in its series, proved that revisiting beloved comedies can be a smart move. Down Periscope has a dedicated fanbase, and a new team that respects the original while also aiming to improve upon it could make a sequel surprisingly successful.

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2025-12-23 05:48