The long-awaited Naked Gun reboot has finally been announced, with Liam Neeson set to take on the lead role – but fans aren’t entirely pleased at the news.
First introduced in the 1982 police spoof sitcom Police Squad!, the Naked Gun series later expanded into three feature-length films, released in 1988, 1992, and 1994.
Created by Leslie Nielsen, who also stars as lead comic character Detective Frank Drebin as he attempts to solve a series of crimes, the Naked Gun franchise was one of the most popular comedy film series of its day.
Now, over 30 years after the first Naked Gun film was released in the cinemas, the cult classic is getting a reboot, with the new film set for release during the summer of 2025.
Nielsen died aged 84 in 2010 while filming of a fourth Naked Gun film was under way – production on Naked Gun: What 4? was put on permanent hold after his death.
Rumours had connected Liam to the role since at least October 2022, with Paramount Pictures apparently planning for Liam to take on the role of Drebin’s son.
But it seems a Naked Gun reboot of this kind is not something fans of the series were necessarily hoping for, with news of the revival not going over well with die-hards.
Responding to the announcement, PalauanRebel commented, ‘I’m sorry but Frank Drebin can only be played by one person,’ celebrating the work Nielsen put into the role over the course of a decade.
Meanwhile, Ariel posted on X: ‘Stop remaking stuff, my god! There’s all these good scripts waiting to be made or released and you f**ks choos to remake movies.’
In among the complaints, some accused the Hollywood movie industry of ‘running out of ideas’, with many doubting that the Taken actor, known for more dramatic roles, could ever live up to the work of Leslie Nielsen.
However, some expressed anticipation and excitement for the film, referencing the comedic performances Liam has delivered in the past, and also mentioned that Leslie Nielsen was largely considered a dramatic actor before joining the Police Squad show and Naked Gun series.
One key example referenced by many people was Liam’s appearance in Life’s Too Short, a short-lived comedy series created by Ricky Gervais, Warwick Davis, and Stephen Merchant.
In one scene, which has been shared widely on social media, Liam purposely derails an improvisational comedy exercise while Ricky, Warwick, and Stephen attempt to keep him on task.
User Airixmyth said: ‘For his day Leslie Neilson has a very dry sense of humor. That was his style. And he too was a serious actor at one point. I think this makes perfect sense.’
When is the Naked Gun reboot set for release?
The official release date for the movie has been pencilled in for July 18, 2025, making it one of only a small handful of films with confirmed release dates for next year.
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