Are you ready for the return of bumbling detective Frank Drebin to the big screen? Wait, chances are if you are under 35 you have no idea what we’re referring to. The character was a masterstroke of deadpan humor played by Leslie Nielsen in three motion pictures beginning with “The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad!” in 1988. Today, Paramount Pictures revealed the long-rumored reboot starring Liam Neeson will arrive in theaters on July 18, 2025.
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Part of a series of announcements before what is no doubt a dramatic Parmaount earnings call, the new “Naked Gun” is directed by Akiva Schaffer and written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Schaffer has the comedies “Hot Rod” and the cult classic “Popstar: Never Stop Stopping” on his resume, but the trio also just collaborated on “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers.” That movie, which reportedly tested through the roof, is still potentially being shelved for tax purposes by Warner Bros. Discovery.
The “Naked Gun” movies were a spinoff from the short-lived 1982 TV series “Police Squad!” It was created by the screenwriting and producing trio of Jim Abrahams, and brothers David and Jerry Zucker whose credits also include “Airplane!” and “Ruthless People” (a must-see if you haven’t had the pleasure). The original film was followed by 1991’s “The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear” and 1994’s “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.” The franchise grossed over $477 million combined and was a cash cow for Paramount Pictures in that era.
The franchise also featured an eclectic set of co-stars for Nielsen including Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, Fred Ward, Anna Nicole Smith, and, unfortunately, O.J. Simpson. Oh, and a Queen Elizabeth impersonator always seemed to find herself in the mix. The movies also featured a ton of celebrity cameos and Hollywood in-jokes. Expect a lot of familiar sports figures and local LA music stars to pop by.
No word on when production of the new “Naked Gun” movie will begin or if Neeson’s character will tie into the original franchise or not.
Additionally, Paramount revealed that the previously announced Michael Gracey’s Robbie Williams musical biopic, “Better Man” will earn a Christmas Day release before expanding on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend on Jan 17.
Other upcoming productions include Robert Olsen and Dan Berk’s “Novocaine” starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder. This high-concept action movie centers on a mild-mannered bank executive (Quaid) with a rare genetic condition that prevents him from feeling pain. When a co-worker (Midthunder) is kidnapped, he has to turn that lack of nerve response into a way to save her. The studio has set a March 14, 2025 release for that endeavor.
Dakota Fanning will star in “Vicious,” a horror thriller from Bryan Bertino (“The Strangers”) about a woman who is presented with a strange gift that sends her down a “rabbit hole” inside the gift. It will hit theaters on August 8, 2025.
“Paw Patrol 3” will arrive on July 31, 2026, and Jeff Rowe will return to direct a “TMNT” animated sequel set for October 9, 2026.
It should be noted that all of the films announced by the studio today were extremely low-cost from a production and talent standpoint.
