The Naked Gun Reboot: Confirmation & Everything We Know

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The classic comedy franchise The Naked Gun is getting the modern reboot treatment, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about the new film. Originally released in 1988 and based on the TV show Police Squad!, The Naked Gun follows bumbling detective Frank Drebin and his pals on the force as they try to foil a plot to assassinate the Queen of England. Created by the legendary Zucker brothers, The Naked Gun‘s humor was a mix of slapstick antics and screwball weirdness, and it was largely anchored by franchise star Leslie Nielsen’s brilliant delivery.

Besides the first film in 1988, The Naked Gun would continue in two sequels throughout the 1990s, though their critical standing would slip with each successive release. Nevertheless, Nielsen’s turn as Frank Drebin helped to further cement his place as one of comedy’s best leading men, and the distinctive Zucker brothers absurdist comedy style has yet to be replicated in any era. Despite that, The Naked Gun has long been the subject of sequel and reboot speculation, and it finally seems as if Hollywood has found a project that will finally bring the franchise back to life.

The Naked Gun Reboot Latest News

Though details regarding the film have been slow in coming, the latest news sees star Liam Neeson give a positive update on the Naked Gun reboot. The action legend was announced to lead the reboot back in 2022, and now the Taken star has finally spoken out about his big comedy turn. When asked if the reboot was still happening, Neeson said “Yes, Paramount Studios, I think. I approached Seth MacFarlane. He and his team are working on it, the scripts. So, we’re hoping to go in the summertime.“

Long a gestating idea, it seems as if the Naked Gun reboot is finally moving forward with a studio attached. Comedy maven Seth MacFarlane has also been attached to the project since day one, and his successful acumen is probably another reason the project is such a high priority for Paramount.

The Naked Gun Reboot Is Confirmed

While many reboots, sequels, and other adjacent projects are announced and never see the light of day, the Naked Gun reboot was revealed back in 2022 and has moved forward since. From the outset, Seth MacFarlane was the progenitor of the idea, and MacFarlane found Liam Neeson as his Leslie Nielsen replacement. The project wasn’t green lit back in 2022, and it seems as if Paramount has yet to give it the go-ahead. However, with such big names attached, the project isn’t likely to wait long to find a home.

The Naked Gun Reboot Cast

So far, the only name attached to the cast of the Naked Gun reboot is Liam Neeson, and it will likely stay that way for some time. The unfortunate passing of original film stars like Leslie Nielsen and George Kennedy limit the number of returning characters, though Priscilla Presley could reprise her role as Jane Spencer. It is also highly unlikely that O.J. Simpson would return as Officer Nordberg considering his very high-profile legal troubles.

The Naked Gun Reboot Story

Almost no story details have been revealed about the reboot, but the idea has been floated that Liam Neeson won’t be playing Detective Frank Drebin. Instead, the Irish screen legend will be playing Drebin’s son who is also a bumbling police officer. Even without any details being revealed, The Naked Gun is known for its zany antics and absurdist humor, and the junior Drebin will likely find himself stumbling his way through a massive case and nearly messing things up in the process.