The Naked Gun (2025 film)

Last updated

The Naked Gun
Directed by Akiva Schaffer
Screenplay by
Story by Seth MacFarlane
Based on Police Squad!
by David Zucker
Jim Abrahams
Jerry Zucker
Produced by
  • Seth MacFarlane
  • Erica Huggins
Starring
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • July 18, 2025 (2025-07-18)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Naked Gun is an upcoming American crime comedy film directed by Akiva Schaffer, from a screenplay by Schaffer, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Mark Hentemann, and Alec Sulkin, from an original story by Seth MacFarlane. Serving as the fourth film, and fifth overall installment in The Naked Gun franchise, the film stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr, alongside Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder, and Busta Rhymes; while MacFarlane and Erica Huggins serve as producers.

Contents

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 18, 2025, by Paramount Pictures.

Cast

Production

Development

In December 2013, Paramount Pictures announced that a reboot of The Naked Gun franchise was in development with Ed Helms cast in the role of Frank Drebin, while the script was being co-written by Thomas Lennon and R. Ben Garant. [1] By January 2014, Garant revealed that the working title of the project is "Episode IV: A New Hope", while announcing that it is intended to be a sequel to the original films. Helms was intended to portray a character that introduces himself as "Frank Drebin, no relation" so that the movie can introduce a new protagonist without contradicting what came before. [2] In March 2015, David Zucker stated that he was offered a producing role on the project, but had declined to being involved as he felt like it would differ in comedic style and ultimately be inferior to his original films. [3] [4] In August 2015, Helms confirmed that the script was still being written, while acknowledging the concerns that Zucker had with modern-day audience reception, and a need for something other than the spoof genre of the previous movies. [5] By March 2017, a re-write of the script was being completed by David Zucker and Pat Proft, with the plot being reworked to feature the son of Frank Drebin. [6]

In January 2021, it was announced that Seth MacFarlane had been hired to further develop the project. After MacFarlane had previously expressed interest in casting Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. in 2015, the filmmaker was hired by the studio. Neeson revealed that the filmmaker alongside Paramount Pictures had approached him with a pitch to star in the movie. [7] [8] In June of the same year, Neeson stated that MacFarlane was working on a new draft of the script, with the studio additionally negotiating the filmmaker's potential role as director. He expressed excitement for the project and the opportunity to explore a more comedic role, should he decide to star in the movie; while stating that development on the project is ongoing. [9] In February 2022, Neeson again confirmed that Paramount is still courting him to star in the legacy sequel. [10]

In October 2022, the film was officially greenlit with Neeson in the lead role as Frank Drebin Jr. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand were hired to write a new draft of the script, from a previous draft with contributions from Mark Hentemann and Alec Sulkin. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins served as producers, under their production studio Fuzzy Door Productions. [11]

In April 2024, Pamela Anderson joined the cast of the film. [12] In May, Paul Walter Hauser joined the cast, playing Capt. Ed Hocken, [13] alongside Kevin Durand in an undisclosed villain role as well as Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder and Busta Rhymes. [14] [15] [16]

Filming

Principal photography began on May 6, 2024, in Atlanta, under the working title Law of Toughness. [17] [18]

Release

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 18, 2025. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ McNary, Dave (December 13, 2013). "Ed Helms Firing Up The Naked Gun Reboot for Paramount (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lesnick, Silas (January 11, 2014). "The Naked Gun Reboot Will be More Sequel Than Remake". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  3. ↑ De Semlyen, Phil (December 3, 2015). "David Zucker: Naked Gun Reboot Won't Be The Same Kind Of Spoof". Empire Online. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan (March 11, 2015). "'Airplane!' Mastermind David Zucker on Leslie Nielsen, the 'Naked Gun' Reboot and His New TV Show". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ Polowy, Kevin (August 5, 2015). "Ed Helms Updates Us on 'Naked Gun' Reboot, Answers 'Things We've Always Wondered'". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ Skubish, Jake (March 30, 2017). "Director David Zucker talks "Airplane!", comedy, getting his start on campus". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ Zinski, Dan (January 19, 2021). "Liam Neeson & Seth MacFarlane Have Talked About a Naked Gun Reboot". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ Campione, Katie (January 2021). "Liam Neeson Says He Will Soon Retire from Action Movies: 'There's a Couple in the Pipeline'". People. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ Reyes, Mike (June 24, 2021). "Liam Neeson's Update On Seth MacFarlane's The Naked Gun Reboot Has Us Very Excited". CinemaBlend. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  10. ↑ Fernández, Alexia (February 7, 2022). "Liam Neeson on Playing Action Roles as He Turns 70: 'I'm Getting Away with It'". People. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 13, 2022). "New 'Naked Gun' Movie A Go At Paramount With Liam Neeson In Talks To Star And 'Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer Directing". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 16, 2024). "Pamela Anderson Joins Liam Neeson In Paramount's New 'Naked Gun' Movie". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  13. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (May 1, 2024). "'Naked Gun': Paul Walter Hauser Joins Liam Neeson in Reboot". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kit, Borys (May 2, 2024). "Kevin Durand Joins Liam Neeson in 'Naked Gun' Remake (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 7, 2024). "Danny Huston Joins Paramount's 'Naked Gun' Reboot". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  16. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 23, 2024). "Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, CCH Pounder & Busta Rhymes Round Out Cast Of Naked Gun Reboot". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Vardhan, Harsh (March 14, 2024). "Liam Neeson's Naked Gun Reboot Starts Filming in Atlanta in May". The CinemaHolic. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Now Filming in Georgia". Georgia . May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (February 28, 2024). "'Naked Gun' Remake Set for 2025 by Paramount; 'TMNT' and 'Paw Patrol' Sequels Dated for 2026". Variety . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.

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