The Naked Gun Reboot: All We Know About Liam Neeson's Comedy Comeback Including Release Date, Cast, Plot and More
Paramount is bringing back the classic The Naked Gun franchise with a new installment, set to release in theaters on August 1, 2025. This reboot is being described as a 'legacy sequel' and features Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen's original character from the earlier films.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer (SNL, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and produced by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted), the new film brings a fresh take on the spoof-comedy legacy that began in 1988.
Alongside Neeson, the cast features Pamela Anderson as a mysterious femme fatale named Beth, and Paul Walter Hauser as Captain Ed Hocken Jr., the son of George Kennedy's character from the original films. The ensemble also includes Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder, Busta Rhymes, and Eddy Yu.
Here's what the new trailer reveals
Paramount dropped the new The Naked Gun trailer on June 16. Liam Neeson's version of Drebin appears to embrace slapstick comedy while poking fun at his famous 'particular set of skills' from the Taken films.
In one scene, Drebin says, "Once you kill a man for revenge, there's no going back," before using ripped-off arms as weapons. He follows that up with a voiceover: "That was awesome."
We also see emotional nods to the franchise's legacy as Frank and Ed Jr. stand in front of commemorative plaques honoring their fathers. In one classic joke, Drebin interrogates a suspect who served 20 years for 'man's laughter,' only to be corrected that it was 'manslaughter.' Drebin replies: "Must have been quite the joke."
In this new story, Frank Drebin Jr. is a top officer in the elite Police Squad. He's pulled into action when Beth's brother is murdered, and the squad's future is on the line. If Drebin fails to solve the case, the department will be shut down. Of course, the absurd humor remains intact, with Drebin even commandeering a coffee shop restroom for 'police business.'
The original The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! released in 1988 and was followed by two sequels: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Final Insult (1994). A reboot was first announced in 2013 with Ed Helms, but it never moved forward. Director David Zucker, who helmed the original films, declined involvement, saying it would only be inferior.
While he was briefly part of a 2017 rewrite, that version also stalled. Zucker isn't involved in the current project and told TMZ he regretted watching the teaser, saying, "I can't unsee it."
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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
The Naked Gun trailer: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson go on a wild ride in this slapstick comedy reboot. Watch
Paramount Pictures has released the much-anticipated trailer for the upcoming reboot of the classic comedy Naked Gun, set for release on August 1. The film, a modern take on the beloved 1980s franchise, stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of the original bumbling detective Frank Drebin, portrayed by the late Leslie Nielsen. (Also read: Pamela Anderson breaks silence on her dramatic Met Gala hair transformation: 'It wasn't about…') In this reimagined version of the iconic film series, Neeson's character follows in his father's comedic footsteps, bringing his own brand of misadventure and slapstick humour to the screen. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, the film promises to deliver the same absurd and chaotic comedy that made the original Naked Gun series a fan favourite. The star-studded cast also includes Pamela Anderson, who is returning to the spotlight as part of the film's ensemble, as well as Paul Walter Hauser, who plays the son of Captain Ed Hocken (George Kennedy) from the original films. Other cast members include CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, and Danny Huston, with additional appearances from Eddie Yu. Written by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and Schaffer, the new 'Naked Gun' film promises to stay true to the slapstick style of its predecessors. The original trilogy, which reportedly grossed over USD 216 million worldwide, was known for its zany humour, outlandish gags, and the unforgettable character of Frank Drebin, a bumbling police detective who consistently found himself in outlandish situations. The franchise, which began with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! in 1988, also spawned two sequels: The Naked Gun 2 1/2 : The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3 : The Final Insult (1994). Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guyand producer of Ted, serves as a producer for the reboot, bringing his sharp comedic sensibilities to the project. With Schaffer at the helm, audiences can expect a mix of absurd humour and a fast-paced, visual gag-filled narrative mirroring the charm of the original films. (ANI)
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
New Naked Gun trailer promises a wild ride with Liam Neeson and a Pamela Anderson surprise. Watch
Naked Gun trailer: The Naked Gun franchise from the late 80s and early 90s comprised three police comedy spoofs featuring the legendary Leslie Nielsen. Now Paramount Pictures are bringing back the franchise with actor Liam Neeson playing the role of Nielsen's son, who has become an out-of-pocket and chaos magnet detective just like his father. Armed with a star-studded cast, bludgeoning humour and, of course, Neeson's less talked about comedic timing, the film will hope to recreate the magic of the original while trying not to take itself too seriously. The trailer opens up with a stroll down memory lane, as viewers of this generation are introduced to the notoriously funny but efficient 'Police-Force'. Neeson takes a knee in front of a portrait of his father, Frankie Drebin (Nielsen), and promises him that he will make him proud. As the camera zooms out, we see a line of detectives doing the same in front of other portraits, while a young police officer looks at the picture of Nordberg (played by OJ Simpson) and refuses to pay any kind of tribute to him. This is a nod to OJ falling out of grace with the entire industry after he was accused of killing his ex-wife and her partner. Watch | Priyanka Chopra tries to keep Idris Elba, John Cena alive in final trailer for Heads of State Several shots of Liam Neeson's complete disregard for laws and regulations follow, as the descendant of Frankie Drebin starts shooting up a cafe, just so he can cut in the bathroom line. The main case of the narrative arrives as Pamela Anderson continues her glorious return to the big screen after the 2024 film The Last Showgirl. Rapper Busta Rhymes and WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes will also be joining in with hilarious cameos, as the makers of the film seem to be paying homage to several movie franchises, including Mission: Impossible. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the cast of the film includes Liam Neeson, Kevin Durand, Paul Walter Hauser, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Michael Bisping, David Lengel, Cody Rhodes and Busta Rhymes. The film will release on August 1.
Time of India
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1 2 The trailer of 'The Naked Gun' is out now. Each part of this show has come with a different story, and so it is expected with this one. The plot gets different, and so does the genre. The sequel has been going since 1988, and now the fourth part is coming. The sequel The original film was in 1988, 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!,' which was based on the comedy series 'Police Squad!.' The movie was a total hit at the box office and was later followed by 'The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear' in 1991 and 'Naked Gun 33 ⅓: The Final Insult' in 1994. The Cast The cast includes Liam Neeson, who leads as Frank Drebin, the investigator first portrayed by Leslie Nielsen. Paul Walter Hauser plays Captain Ed, previously played by Alan North and George Kennedy in the show and film franchise, respectively. Pamela Anderson plays the love interest, taking over Priscilla Presley's film role. The cast also includes Danny Huston, Kevin Durand, and Liza Koshy. Anderson and Neeson's words At the Zurich Film Festival last October, Anderson said, 'Liam is hysterical in it.' Further, Neeson praised his co-star, quoting 'With Pamela, first off, I'm madly in love with her. She's just terrific to work with,' Neeson said to People. 'I can't compliment her enough, I'll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She's funny and so easy to work with. She's going to be terrific in the film.' Neeson has also expressed feeling dubious about taking on a comedic role. 'Yes, I'm honored to be offered the part of Frank Drebin, and a little bit nervous about it because I've done a couple of skits before that were just very short TV things, but this would be, I don't know, 95, 100 minutes of a film,' he said to Collider. The film hits the theatres on 1st August. Watch the 'Naked Gun' trailer below:
