Leslie Nielsen's classic The Naked Gun reboot is coming — and here's who's in talks to take over

Virgin Radio

14 Oct 2022, 11:04

The Naked Gun reboot is happening

Credit: IMDB

Who doesn't love a bit of old school comedy The Naked Gun with the iconic late Leslie Nielsen as Police Squad's Detective Frank Drebin? The 1980's franchise is returning and there's a new lead man in mind.

According to Deadline, he's not someone you'd immediately associate with comedy, but Taken star Liam Neeson is in the running to take over from original comedy genius Nielsen playing the son of Drebin, instead of stepping directly into his slapstick shoes.

Neeson previously spoke about being asked to star in the movie at the start of the year, and told People: "I've been approached by Seth MacFarlane and Paramount Studios to maybe resurrect the Naked Gun films. It'll either finish my career or bring it in another direction. I honestly don't know."

Nielsen first played Frank in the short-lived Police Squad! TV series from the creatives behind the Airplane! team, then on the big screen in the 1988 movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!.

Two sequels including 1991's The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear and 1994’s Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult starring Priscilla Presley and Ricardo Montalban followed and the franchise made $350 (£310) million at the worldwide box office.

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