Liam Neeson is stepping into the legendary shoes of Frank Drebin, now playing Drebin Jr., in the highly anticipated reboot of the ‘Naked Gun’ franchise.
The first trailer reveals Neeson’s take on the bumbling detective, showcasing a blend of slapstick and action as he dispatches a villain in a schoolgirl disguise with a sharpened lollipop. The trailer also pays homage to the original, featuring a poignant moment with Drebin Jr. addressing a photo of his late father.
The reboot acknowledges the legacy of the original films but also the passing of key figures. The trailer includes references to the offspring of Captain Ed Hocken and Officer Nordberg. Notably, the past year saw the passing of O.J. Simpson and Jim Abrahams, a co-creator of the series. Leslie Nielsen, who defined the role of Frank Drebin, passed away in 2010, and George Kennedy in 2016.
Watch the trailer here
Akiva Schaffer, known for his comedic work on Saturday Night Live and films like “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”, directs the new film, with Seth MacFarlane, the creator of “Family Guy” producing. Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston also star.
Neeson, known for his dramatic roles, including an Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Schindler’s List’ and his action-packed ‘Taken’ series, now embraces the comedic legacy of ‘Naked Gun.’ Despite previous suggestions he might retire from action roles, he continues to work, appearing in 2024’s ‘Absolution.’
The original ‘Naked Gun’ trilogy, created by the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker team, was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, grossing $166 million at the box office and achieving enduring popularity through DVD sales and streaming platforms.
