Liam Neeson Stars in First ‘The Naked Gun’ Trailer/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The first trailer for the reboot of The Naked Gun franchise has been released, with Liam Neeson stepping into the lead role as Frank Drebin Jr. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the film reimagines the beloved spoof series. Neeson plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character in a modern take on slapstick policing.
Liam Neeson Stars in First Naked Gun Trailer – Quick Looks
- Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., son of the original bumbling detective
- Paramount debuts trailer for reboot of classic Naked Gun comedy franchise
- Film directed by Akiva Schaffer, produced by Seth MacFarlane
- Trailer teases action and satire, with a slicker version of Drebin
- Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston co-star in supporting roles
- Original characters referenced, including Captain Ed Hocken and Nordberg
- Leslie Nielsen’s legacy honored, with nods to the original trilogy
- Release follows a wave of 80s/90s comedy reboots, modernizing slapstick for new audiences
Liam Neeson Stars in First ‘The Naked Gun’ Trailer
Deep Look
Paramount has released the first trailer for its highly anticipated reboot of The Naked Gun, reviving one of the most beloved slapstick franchises of the 1980s and ’90s. The trailer introduces Liam Neeson in the lead role of Frank Drebin Jr., the fictional son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic, deadpan detective from the original series.
The film marks a comedic pivot for Neeson, who at 72, has spent recent decades leading action blockbusters like the Taken trilogy and most recently, 2024’s Absolution. In the new trailer, Neeson’s Drebin Jr. is presented as a more polished and competent – but still endearingly absurd – law enforcement officer. One of the teaser’s standout moments shows him disarming a criminal disguised as a schoolgirl using only a sharpened lollipop, a modern twist on the classic series’ blend of chaos and cleverness.
While Nielsen’s original Frank Drebin remains a towering influence in the world of spoof comedy, the reboot aims to forge a fresh legacy. Neeson is seen tearfully addressing a photo of his character’s late father, an emotional callback for fans of the original films. The trailer also reveals the children of franchise staples Captain Ed Hocken (played in the original by George Kennedy) and Officer Nordberg (originally played by O.J. Simpson) making appearances, continuing the satirical legacy of the franchise’s eccentric police force.
Naked Gun (2025) is directed by Akiva Schaffer, best known for his work with The Lonely Island and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. The film is produced by Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy and Ted, whose involvement suggests a blend of nostalgic slapstick and edgy, modern comedy.
Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston join the cast in yet-to-be-disclosed roles, adding both comedic and dramatic range to the reboot’s ensemble.
The film comes more than a decade after Leslie Nielsen’s passing in 2010 and follows the deaths of several original contributors, including George Kennedy (2016), co-creator Jim Abrahams (2024), and O.J. Simpson (2024). Despite these losses, the new film leans into homage, referencing the originals while updating the absurdity for a new generation.
The original Naked Gun trilogy—From the Files of Police Squad!, The Smell of Fear, and The Final Insult—grossed over $166 million at the box office and gained cult status thanks to home video and streaming. Known for its rapid-fire gags, visual humor, and Nielsen’s legendary straight-faced delivery, the franchise helped define the spoof genre for decades.
Though Neeson has often teased retirement from action roles, this comedic detour suggests he’s not quite ready to hang up the badge—or the laughs. With the combination of Schaffer’s comedic vision and MacFarlane’s irreverent style, the Naked Gun reboot may find new life among fans old and new.
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