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Well, slap a badge on Liam Neeson and call it satire—because The Naked Gun is back. That’s right, the classic spoof franchise is getting a reboot in 2025, and this time it’s Neeson suiting up as the hopelessly straight-faced detective. And no, it’s not a gritty reboot. It’s still The Naked Gun. Yes, with the jokes. Yes, with the ridiculous plotlines. Yes, with a hero who trips over his own shoelaces while saving the day.
And if you’re thinking, “2025 is stacked with movie reboots,” you’re not wrong. Between sci-fi juggernauts, action sequels, and nostalgic comebacks, it’s shaping up to be a blockbuster buffet. NerdNet has the receipts with their 17 Most Anticipated Sci-Fi & Action Movies of 2025 and 100 Best Movies to Watch Right Now if your brain needs a warm-up before the chaos begins.
A Neeson with a Particular Set of… Punchlines?
So, who exactly is Liam Neeson playing? The son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic Lt. Frank Drebin, of course. Neeson takes on the role of Frank Drebin Jr.—a chip off the old, accident-prone block. The movie’s being framed as a “legacy sequel,” meaning it continues the original storyline but hands the disaster baton to the next generation. And honestly? The casting is perfect. Neeson’s done so many serious roles lately (Taken, The Grey, Unknown, Taken Again…), watching him fumble a gun and deliver deadpan one-liners is a comedic reset we didn’t know we needed.
Who’s in This Madness?
The reboot is helmed by Akiva Schaffer (of The Lonely Island and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping fame), so expect lovingly absurd chaos. The supporting cast includes Pamela Anderson as the femme fatale (or love interest, or possibly both—it’s Naked Gun, after all), Paul Walter Hauser as a new version of Capt. Ed Hocken, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, WWE’s Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, and Danny Huston. Also, yes, Busta Rhymes is in it, because of course he is.
Is It Actually Funny?
From the trailer? Honestly, yeah. It looks like they’re leaning all the way into the original’s DNA: physical comedy, ridiculous wordplay, wild misunderstandings, and Neeson doing his best to act like everything makes perfect sense. There’s a great moment where a criminal says he served 20 years for “man’s laughter,” and Neeson corrects him: “You mean manslaughter… must’ve been quite the joke.” If that’s not peak Naked Gun humor, I don’t know what is.
The Plot (What Little We Know)
The story is under wraps, but it’s safe to assume Drebin Jr. is stepping into his father’s chaotic shoes at Police Squad. Expect bumbling attempts at justice, explosions that shouldn’t have happened, and probably at least one montage of Neeson accidentally destroying a crime scene. It’s not just a spoof of cop movies—it’s a spoof of every serious action franchise, which makes Neeson’s resume the perfect punchline.
When’s It Coming?
The movie is currently set for release on August 1, 2025, right in the thick of summer movie season. It was originally aimed for July but slid back slightly—possibly to avoid colliding with other heavy-hitters dropping that month (or maybe they just needed more time to digitally enhance the banana peel slips).
Keep an eye out for more updates—and if you want to prep your comedy taste buds now, head over to NerdNet’s top 100 movies and revisit (recent) classics. Or, better yet, rewatch the original Naked Gun trilogy so you’re ready to catch every callback Neeson throws your way.
Because if there’s one thing we know for sure… this reboot is gonna be criminally dumb. And we are so here for it.