Online reactions exploded with laughter after Paramount Pictures unveiled the trailer for the highly anticipated reboot of the classic comedy franchise, The Naked Gun. This time around, Liam Neeson steps into the shoes of Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of the legendary, if somewhat accident-prone, Frank Drebin, promising a new generation of slapstick shenanigans.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer (“Saturday Night Live,” Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping), and penned by Schaffer, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand, the film, officially titled The Naked Gun, sees Neeson’s Drebin Jr. inheriting his father’s “very particular set of skills” – skills that primarily involve stumbling into and out of world-threatening conspiracies.
Neeson, while acknowledging the towering comedic legacy of Leslie Nielsen, insists he’s bringing his own unique spin to the role. “I’ll do my own thing,” he stated. “I remember Leslie very well. I love those films. Especially that first Airplane! You know, ‘Don’t call me Shirley.’ Just that line alone, I think, changed Leslie’s career up until he passed away.”
Joining Neeson on this comedic mission are an impressive cast including Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston.
The film is a Paramount Pictures presentation, in association with Domain Entertainment, and a Fuzzy Door production, helmed by Seth MacFarlane (Ted, “Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins, p.g.a., who serve as producers. Executive producers include Daniel M. Stillman, Akiva Schaffer, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary.
Fans of the original series will find the spirit of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin present, though the trailer indicates a shift towards a more pointed comedic style, in addition to Neeson’s own unique interpretation, suggesting a modern take that isn’t afraid to push some boundaries beyond the previous all-out spoof approach.
The Naked Gun is set to unleash its particular brand of chaos upon cinema screens on August 8, 2025. Neeson’s Drebin is coming, but is his enthusiasm in the trailer purely cinematic, or is he… beavering with excitement? Have a watch below to find out:
