Seth MacFarlane’s Naked Gun Reboot Finally Takes Off

The ever-so-distinct sound of fists hitting groin will be returning to theaters after a 30-year hiatus. The Naked Gun, a long-running spoof comedy franchise famed for its wildly unapologetic humor and absurd situations, is officially returning with a new installment set for release August 1, 2025. Instead of Leslie Nielsen, however, it’s Liam Neeson donning the badge as the late Frank Drebin’s son, in what is being promoted as a “legacy sequel.”

The first Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! was released in 1988, and quickly became a classic entry in the crime-comedy genre. The original film, which stars Nielsen as bumbling-but-goodhearted Detective Frank Drebin, followed the character in his efforts to stop an assassination attempt against Queen Elizabeth II during her state visit to the United States. It became a sleeper hit, with the film’s corny one-liners and Nielsen’s renowned deadpan delivery winning over audiences. Two sequels soon followed: The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear in 1991, which saw Drebin attempting to prevent a plan to kidnap the world’s leading nuclear scientist, and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult in 1994, in which a retired Drebin is coerced out of retirement to foil a bomb plot targeting the Academy Awards.

For some reason, however, the series didn’t quite maintain that momentum after the third film. A reboot was first announced in 2013, with Paramount initially attaching Office star Ed Helms to the role of “Frank Drebin, no relation.” But that idea, which initially kept close ties to the previous films, was shelved for a variety of reasons, with at least one creative camp seemingly reluctant to move forward without their blessing. David Zucker, the original producer of all three films and director of the first two, had publicly said that he did not want to be involved with any sort of reboot, believing that anything could only be “inferior” to the original trilogy. In 2017, Zucker briefly re-engaged with a draft of the film, which reworked a different iteration of the reboot that focused on Drebin’s son as a secret agent.

But then it was quiet on the Naked Gun front, until the news broke in 2021 that Seth MacFarlane was helming the film without Zucker attached, and that Liam Neeson had signed on to the role of Frank Drebin Jr., a lieutenant in the police force, in Drebin Sr.’s unmistakable mold. Since then, details have started trickling in about the project and its upcoming film.

A Cast of Characters

Joining Neeson in the new film is Paul Walter Hauser, cast as Captain Ed Hocken, Jr., the son of Drebin Sr.’s longtime partner. Hauser may be recognizable from his role in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps as Mole Man. The sultry Pamela Anderson also joins the cast as Beth, a femme fatale with a brother who’s been murdered and who seeks Drebin Jr.’s help in solving the case. Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder, Busta Rhymes, and Eddy Yu also join the cast, which is rounded out with a mysterious “father of all wildcards” played by Neal McDonough.

The first teaser trailer was released in April to a mixed reception. David Zucker, of course, was not a fan. Speaking to TMZ, Zucker said of the first trailer, “I regret seeing it. I regret spending 30 seconds of my life watching that because I can’t unsee it.” But the trailer has had a few bright spots that fans can latch on to. Neeson seems to be embracing the whole screwball style of the series, parodying his Taken “I have a particular set of skills” character in several scenes, most notably where he dramatically intones, “Once you kill a man for revenge, there’s no going back,” before ripping off the arms of an attacker and then chucking them back at him as if they were pieces of paper. “A voice in your head saying over and over ‘That was awesome,’” he follows it up with.

The trailer also includes some sentimental tributes to the old series, with a scene that sees both Frank and Ed Jr. getting misty-eyed in front of the commemorative plaques dedicated to their fathers. But there’s also the signature and deadpan humor that will undoubtedly see Drebin Sr. fans smiling wryly. The setup to the murder mystery plot, in which Beth (Anderson) is seeking Drebin Jr.’s help in solving her brother’s murder, if not unsuccessful, Drebin is going to have his beloved Police Squad disbanded, is cut by one suspect blandly telling police that he’s been in prison for 20 years for “man’s laughter.” Corrected by one officer that it was “manslaughter,” Drebin dryly responds, “Must have been quite the joke.”

From Neeson commandeering a coffee shop restroom for “police business” to deadpanning afterthought one-liners with shrugging confidence, the actor seems more than game to don the badge, or at the very least to take a tumble while wearing it.

So, is the humor for everyone? Probably not. But then, that’s what made the original trilogy great: It’s cheesy, pun-filled, and gloriously silly. If this first trailer is any indication, however, The Naked Gun 2025 looks to be shaping up to be a fun, mindless summer nostalgia trip just in time for its release.