2 weeks Ago
In the latest trailer of The Naked Gun, Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr. — son of the hilariously inept detective brought to life by the late Leslie Nielsen. The trailer blends action-movie style with some slapstick comedy.
Liam Neeson in Polkadot briefs? Yes, this is real. The Naked Gun reboot trailer is finally here. Let’s just say, if you weren’t expecting Liam Neeson to show up wearing a schoolgirl uniform and wielding a lollipop like a lethal weapon.
.. you’re not alone.
And yet, here we are. The very first look at The Naked Gun reboot has just dropped and it is exactly as outrageous, bizarre and wonderfully unhinged as it sounds. The trailer blends shiny action-movie style with silly comedy and yes, even manages to squeeze in an O.
J. Simpson jokes, just to keep things on brand. Taking over the mantle of the legendary Frank Drebin, Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr.
– the son of the hilariously inept detective brought to life by the late Leslie Nielsen. His mission? To resurrect his father’s slapstick legacy for a brand-new generation, one ridiculous explosion and poorly timed pratfall at a time. A sneak peek of the film, shared online and screened during CinemaCon (aka the annual gathering of movie theatre owners and insiders), offers just a taste of what’s to come.
There’s one particularly unmissable moment that flips expectations on their head. A high-stakes heist is underway, SWAT teams are in place, robbers armed to the teeth and tension is thick in the air. Enter: a little girl with an oversized lollipop, strolling through the chaos like she’s out for a Sunday walk.
“What do you want, little one?" one of the robbers asks, clearly confused. “Your ass," she replies, deadpan. In an instant, the mask comes off – it’s Neeson.
The lollipop? Not candy. It’s a weapon. What follows is an all-out takedown you’d expect in an action thriller.
Watch the trailer here: Behind the camera is Akiva Schaffer, best known for his work with The Lonely Island comedy group. The project is also backed by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and producer Erica Huggins. Of course, The Naked Gun isn’t exactly new territory.
The original trilogy, kicked off in 1988 with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, was a massive hit. Critics loved it. Audiences couldn’t get enough.
It pulled in $140 million globally and became a comedy classic. Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin – bumbling, well-meaning and entirely oblivious – was the beating heart of it all. So naturally, Paramount wanted more.
That led to two sequels: The Naked Gun 21⁄2: The Smell of Fear in 1991 and Naked Gun 331⁄3: The Final Insult in 1994. Both did well at the box office. According to Variety, the studio has been trying to reboot the series since 2013.
At one point, Ed Helms was even tapped to star as Frank Drebin. That version, however, didn’t make it past the planning stage. Then came 2021.
Seth MacFarlane announced he was stepping in to breathe new life into the reboot. Plot specifics are still under wraps, but here’s what we do know: this reboot is leaning hard into the chaos, the camp, and the comedy. And Neeson? He seems to be having the time of his life.
The film will arrive in cinemas on August 1..
