Paramount has released the first trailer for The Naked Gun, the reboot of the absurd cop comedy franchise. The film hits theaters August 1.
Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.
Naked Gun stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s original bumbling detective. Like his father, Drebin Jr. works for Police Squad and finds himself caught in a mess bigger than he can handle. Neeson plays it straight, which fits the franchise’s deadpan tone.
The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer, known for Saturday Night Live and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Seth MacFarlane, behind Family Guy and Ted, is producing.
Returning the Absurd Humor
The reboot follows the same slapstick style and parody sensibilities as the original trilogy, which launched in 1988 with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!. That film and its two sequels earned over $216 million combined. The original was spun out of the short-lived Police Squad! TV show by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers.
This new entry aims to keep the same tone. Writers Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and director Schaffer are behind the script.
Full Cast Revealed
In addition to Liam Neeson, the cast includes Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser (playing the son of Captain Ed Hocken), CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston.
It’s a mix of veteran actors and new faces, with a few names hinting at more over-the-top antics.
Trailer Highlights
The trailer leans into the parody. Guns, explosions, and dead-serious line readings collide with obvious slapstick gags. “Justice has a new daddy,” the trailer declares, as Neeson’s Drebin Jr. trips, falls, and fumbles his way through one chaotic scene after another.
Watch the official trailer:
