In 1982, ABC aimed to capitalize on the rising popularity of spoof films like Airplane! by launching a comedic TV series called Police Squad!. Created by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, the show parodied cop dramas but was canceled after just four of its six episodes. Luckily, the concept didn’t die completely; six years later, it reemerged as the feature film The Naked Gun.
Starring Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin, alongside a supporting cast that included George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! became a massive hit, leading to two sequels: The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. After years of talk about a reboot, the project gained momentum in 2021 when Seth MacFarlane joined as producer, with Akiva Schaffer set to direct. The cast has been growing, with Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser confirmed, but the big news is that Liam Neeson will take on the role of Frank Drebin.
This brings us to a vital question: Is Neeson funny enough to fill those shoes? Unfortunately, the answer is not straightforward. Known primarily for his tough-guy roles in action films like the Taken series, Neeson isn’t exactly synonymous with comedy. However, he has dabbled in humor before, appearing in films like A Million Ways to Die in the West and the romantic comedy Love Actually. His role as Good Cop/Bad Cop in The Lego Movie showcased a unique kind of deadpan humor that echoes the spirit of the original Naked Gun trilogy. If he can tap into that energy, he might just succeed.
It’s also worth noting that the actor he’s replacing didn’t come from a comedic background either. Leslie Nielsen was primarily a dramatic actor before his breakout comedic role in Airplane!, which only added to the humor when he ventured into slapstick. Neeson could certainly leverage similar dynamics.
On the surface, Liam Neeson appears to have what it takes to portray Frank Drebin Jr. However, many factors will influence the reboot’s success, and only time—and ticket sales—will tell if it resonates with audiences.
What do you think?
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