The Naked Gun Reboot: Everything We Know So Far

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After a span of fifteen years filled with false beginnings, the long-awaited installment of the popular parody series “The Naked Gun” has been completed and is set for global cinema release. What sets this film apart is that it’s not exactly a traditional reboot, but rather a sequel to the 1994 movie “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.” Action star Liam Neeson takes the lead as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a franchise that originated from the 1982 TV series “Police Squad!”.

Despite an abundance of anticipated antics and visual jokes on the horizon, comedy enthusiasts will have to exercise a bit of patience before they can sink their teeth into more hilarious escapades from the “Naked Gun” gang. However, when can we anticipate the return of this iconic franchise? What will it entail? Who will join Liam Neeson in the cast? And what precursors can one watch to get ready for its premiere? Here’s all you need to know.

We won’t be able to laugh with the “Naked Gun” crew just yet, but when is the reboot coming and who will star alongside Liam Neeson? Also, what should we watch to get ready for its release? Here’s a rundown of the information you need.

When does the Naked Gun reboot premiere?

On August 1st, 2025, “The Naked Gun” is set to premiere in cinemas for the first time. This decision by Paramount is quite daring, as it’s right in the heart of summer blockbuster season. Typically, the biggest movies are launched during this period. However, they could have waited an additional month and released the film on the traditional Labor Day weekend, which often proves profitable. Instead, they’re opting to go head-to-head with a lineup of family-friendly films. In the United States, “The Naked Gun” will be competing directly against “The Bad Guys 2,” another animated sequel that is also due for release on the same day. A week later, on August 8th, yet another sequel, “Freakier Friday,” will hit theaters.

As of now, it remains unclear what rating “The Naked Gun” will receive, but executives at Paramount seem optimistic that they can attract mature audiences during the first fortnight of August. To be fair, there were certainly aspects of “The Bad Guys” that only adults would appreciate, and there are other choices for grown-ups in this release window as well. For instance, the comedy-drama “My Mother’s Wedding,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Sienna Miller, is set to premiere on August 8 as well. Whether or not releasing “The Naked Gun” in early August is a sound decision remains to be seen.

Has the Naked Gun reboot released a trailer?

Online, a sneak peek for “The Naked Gun” was released prior to its presentation at CinemaCon. This is where they unveiled additional footage that sparked big laughs and applause, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. They also noted that the footage suggests a tone reminiscent of the original series, featuring a scene where Neeson uses his severed arms to beat up an individual. The teaser trailer is filled with humorous violence, such as Frank disguised as a little girl successfully infiltrating a bank robbery, only to remove his mask and use his lollipop unexpectedly effectively as a weapon. Moreover, the teaser hints that Frank Drebin Jr. is the son of the original character, Frank Drebin.

In the trailer, we find Frank grief-stricken at a place known as the “Hall of Legends” station, where many officers are also paying tribute to their deceased comrades. A Black officer is depicted contemplating a plaque dedicated to Norberg (O.J. Simpson). He then acknowledges the audience by looking directly into the camera and shaking his head before departing. The trailer suggests a film that isn’t shy about satirizing any subject, including itself. Despite this, there are no scenes featuring Pamela Anderson in the trailer, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter; however, she was shown during the extended footage at CinemaCon, along with Busta Rhymes, who plays an ex-con character to whom Frank quips, “It says you’ve served 20 years for man’s laughter. Must have been quite the joke.

Who is the cast of the Naked Gun reboot?

In addition to Busta Rhymes’ undisclosed character and Pamela Anderson portraying Beth, who appears to be the female lead and Frank’s love interest, several familiar faces will appear in “The Naked Gun.” Paul Walter Hauser is set to play Frank’s right-hand man Captain Ed Hocken Jr., a character whose father, Ed Hocken, was played by George Kennedy. Danny Huston, recognized for his roles in films like “The Aviator” and “The Constant Gardener,” will also be featured. Kevin Durand, famous for the series “Locke & Key,” is confirmed to play one of the film’s villains. Liza Koshy, CCH Pounder, and wrestler Cody Rhodes are also cast in undisclosed roles, while Rhodes has previously acted in shows like “Arrow.” Michael Beasley (“The 5th Wave”) has been cast as Officer Taylor in the film.

Currently, there’s no information available about whether Priscilla Presley will make an appearance as Jane Spencer Drebin, the wife of Frank Sr. and possible mother of Frank Jr., a character introduced in “Naked Gun 33 1/3.” Previously, Presley has expressed disinterest in the long-developing reboot, but this was before it was clarified that the project is actually a sequel rather than a full reboot. It’s possible that they are keeping a cameo from Presley secret? Considering her firm resistance to the project over the years, it seems unlikely, but you never know. Additionally, there’s been no confirmation about Weird Al Yankovic’s involvement in this potential sequel, as he appeared in all previous “Naked Gun” films.

Who is the director of the Naked Gun reboot?

2025’s “The Naked Gun” was directed by Akiva Schaffer, who not only oversaw the filmmaking process but also contributed to its script and helped produce it. With a vast resume in comedy, Schaffer is often recognized for his collaborations with the popular digital humor group The Lonely Island. He has rapped on several tracks with them and acted in their skits and music videos. To date, his most significant acting gig has been playing Lawrence in “Popstar: Never Stop Stopping.

He has a diverse background in directing, having worked on numerous digital shorts for The Lonely Island on “Saturday Night Live” and music videos for various bands. In the film industry, Akiva Schaffer has directed movies such as “Hot Rod,” “The Watch,” “Popstar: Never Stop Stopping,” and most recently, “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers.” On television, his directing credits encompass two episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” about a dozen installments of “I Think You Should Leave,” and the Netflix special titled “Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special.

Who are the writers and producers of the Naked Gun reboot?

Akiva Schaffer collaborated with him in penning and co-producing “The Naked Gun”. This movie was also penned by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Notably, Gregor, who previously belonged to the Upright Citizens Brigade, contributed to several episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” and served as its executive story editor during Seasons 7 and 8. In cinemas, he teamed up with Mand again to script “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”. Similarly, Mand also worked on the “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers” script and Gregor’s episodes of “How I Met Your Mother”. Essentially, they have a history of working together. The original writers and creators of “Police Squad!” and the “Naked Gun” trilogy, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, are acknowledged as the basis for this new production. However, Zucker has already expressed his disdain for the remake, stating to TMZ that he has no intention of watching it and even regrets having seen its trailer.

Daniel M. Stillman, who initially worked as a production manager, now joins Schaffer as an executive producer. He has previously executive produced movies like “Leave the World Behind,” “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” “Krampus,” and “Maze Runner: the Death Cure.” The man behind the scenes with a significant impact is undeniably Seth MacFarlane, renowned for his work on “Family Guy” and “American Dad.” He’s thrilled with how the film has developed, expressing to Collider that Schaffer has done an exceptional job. Erica Huggins, who collaborated with MacFarlane on his “Ted” prequel series, is also a producer for this movie.

What happened in the previous Naked Gun movies?

The “Naked Gun” series originated from “Police Squad!”, a comedic crime show that ran for a single season in 1982. Later, “Police Squad!” was reborn as the 1988 film titled “The Naked Gun: From Police Squad’s Archives,” which moved Frank Drebin to contemporary Los Angeles and gave him a crucial mission: he had to uncover who was manipulating individuals to attempt assassinations on prominent public figures, all while safeguarding Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley), whose role might be vital for Drebin’s own well-being.

1988’s “The Naked Gun” was successful enough to lead to two significant follow-ups. In 1991, “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” found Frank up against a questionable group of energy magnates who kidnapped Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (played by Richard Griffiths) and replaced him with an imposter before he could set his plans for redefining the energy industry in motion. In 1994, “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” saw Frank return from retirement to infiltrate a group of terrorists planning on detonating the Academy Awards. The movie concluded with Jane and Frank welcoming a son, setting up the plot for the upcoming fourth film.

Where to watch Police Squad! and the Naked Gun films

If you’re eager to refresh your memory on the “Naked Gun” series ahead of the new sequel, here’s an update: Sadly, “Police Squad!” isn’t streaming anywhere, and you can’t buy episodes separately on demand either. But don’t worry! You can still get the entire show on DVD. As of now, you can find the standard edition of “Police Squad!” on Amazon for under $10 if you want to catch up before hitting the cinema in August.

For those who are fans of “The Naked Gun” trilogy, here’s where you can catch the movies: The first film, “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!”, is available for free streaming on Tubi. However, to watch the two sequels, you’ll have to buy them at a cost of $3.99 each from platforms such as Google Play, Apple TV, Fandango, and Amazon Prime Video. If you’re eagerly waiting for the upcoming Liam Neeson-led sequel, it might be on Paramount+ once its cinema release concludes; but that could take a while. In case you can’t wait, your best bet is to catch it at a movie theater instead.

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2025-04-15 16:31