From the hallowed case files of Police Squad! comes the long-awaited return of cinematic slapstick chaos: The Naked Gun is back. Paramount Pictures has officially released the first theatrical trailer for the rebooted franchise, and it stars none other than Liam Neeson as the next generation of the hilariously inept Drebin family. Hitting theaters on August 1, the new installment revives the spirit of the beloved comedy trilogy that helped cement Leslie Nielsen’s legacy as an unexpected comic genius.
Neeson plays Lieutenant Frank Drebin, Jr., son of Nielsen’s legendary original character, bringing his signature dramatic gravity to the role—only this time, for laughs.
The ensemble cast includes Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston, with direction by Akiva Schaffer, who also co-wrote the script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Maud. Producing the project are comedy heavyweight Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, signaling a bold blend of reverence for the original and irreverent modern comedy.
Neeson’s Comic Debut
At first glance, Liam Neeson might seem an unusual choice for a role that demands such comedic deadpan. Best known for roles in intense action films like Taken or brooding dramas such as Schindler’s List, Neeson has rarely ventured into broad comedy. But that tension—between his hardened action persona and the absurd world of The Naked Gun—is exactly what the filmmakers are counting on.
Interestingly, Neeson himself acknowledged the challenge of shifting genres. “I’m slightly nervous of it,” he admitted in an interview with ComingSoon.com. “A little Stephen Colbert sketch or Ricky Gervais, I’m OK because it’s short. But a whole film, we’ll see. We’ll see.” That uncertainty may actually play to his advantage; the Drebin legacy has always thrived on sincere delivery in the face of outrageous nonsense—a quality Nielsen mastered to perfection, and which Neeson seems poised to reinterpret for a new era.
Back in 2022, when the project was still in development, Neeson joked that the reboot could either “finish my career or bring it in another direction.” It’s a sentiment eerily similar to Nielsen’s own career pivot. Before Airplane! turned him into a comedy icon with the unforgettable line “Don’t call me Shirley,” Nielsen was largely known for serious roles. That parallel suggests Neeson may be walking a surprisingly well-worn path.
Anderson, SNL Energy, and a High-Wire Comedy Act
One of the biggest surprises in the reboot’s lineup is Pamela Anderson, returning to mainstream film following her acclaimed indie performance in The Last Showgirl. That role earned her critical acclaim and nominations at both the SAG Awards and Golden Globes, and The Naked Gun offers a dramatically different—and much funnier—showcase for her talents.
Speaking to Seth Meyers earlier this year, Anderson expressed her excitement: “The high comedy of The Naked Gun is something I’ve always wanted to do. And Liam is such a gentleman. He’s such a sweetheart, such a love, and we just had a great connection.” She also praised director Akiva Schaffer’s on-set energy and improvisational openness. “But what a difference, going from an indie film to a Paramount Naked Gun. The scale, the pace—it’s wild.”
Modernizing a Classic
Despite the movie’s comedic intentions, it’s also a genuine love letter to what made the originals so enduring. The writers and director understand that The Naked Gun isn’t just about parody—it’s about specificity, pace, and a uniquely American brand of surreal goofiness. And at the center of it all, the serious man in the most ridiculous situation.
With a stellar cast, genre-savvy director, and a screenplay that appears to riff on everything from noir clichés to airport thrillers, The Naked Gun (2025) is shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated comedy releases. Whether Neeson sticks the landing remains to be seen—but if the trailer’s tone and audience reaction are any indication, we may be witnessing the beginning of his next great career chapter.
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