Liam Neeson Makes Leslie Nielsen Break Character

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15 years have passed since the demise of iconic actor and comedian Leslie Nielsen. In tribute to his film legacy, Hollywood is planning to honor him this year through a much-anticipated movie remake of “The Naked Gun”, scheduled for release on August 1st. Liam Neeson heads the cast, with Paul Walter Hauser, a Golden Globe winner, joining the ensemble. MovieWeb recently interviewed Hauser, who is promoting his new film “The Luckiest Man in America” due out this week. In addition, Hauser discussed his collaboration with Liam Neeson on “The Naked Gun”.

In our work, we were striving to perfectly capture the right tone. Our director, Akiva Schaffer, was particularly attuned to what the Zucker brothers achieved with that kind of humor. I believe we pay a genuine tribute to it, just as Cobra Kai pays homage to The Karate Kid and its original content,” Hauser shared with us, using Raymond ‘Stingray’ Porter’s character in Netflix’s series, Cobra Kai, as an example.

Hauser continued:

It seems we did a commendable job in staying true to our inspiration, “The Naked Gun”. Few would dare to step into the Leslie Nielsen-esque role, but Liam did so brilliantly. There were instances where he made me lose focus due to his impeccable delivery of the deadpan humor, even when the lines themselves were absurd. At times, they had to stop filming because I was struggling to maintain my composure, and all I could do was release a relieved laughter, almost like letting out air from a balloon. It was an exhausting laughter, born out of trying to keep things together during the take.

Portraying a “Gambling Addict” in ‘Luckiest Man in America’

In his latest film, Hauser delivers humor, although it’s a unique type, as he takes on the role of the title contestant in “The Luckiest Man in America“. This movie is inspired by a real-life story where an ordinary man, seemingly innocent, decides to participate in the game show “Press Your Luck“, but with a sneaky twist. Recently, Hauser shared some insights about his intriguing character in this production.

My character desires a home, along with his wife and child. It’s intriguing to note that some individuals may find it difficult to resist certain impulses. They might rationalize their actions by claiming they are acting for the sake of their family. However, I question whether this is truly the case. My character already has a family, but instead of settling for a traditional 9-to-5 job and accepting mediocrity, he appears to be a compulsive gambler. He seems to crave excitement, similar to those involved in scandals like Enron, where they become addicted to the thrill.

Hauser remarked, “It’s evident that he was involved in such dishonest activities and lacked responsibility as a family man. Yet, I can relate to him, feeling compassion due to his apparent struggle with feelings of inadequacy, a sense of needing to prove himself.” The film The Luckiest Man in America, produced by IFC Films, is set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025. Here’s a sneak peek of the teaser trailer for The Naked Gun:

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2025-04-04 01:32