Los Angeles, April 3, 2025 – The first trailer for the long-awaited The Naked Gun reboot dropped today, delivering a wild mix of slapstick comedy, glossy action, and a biting nod to O.J. Simpson that’s already sparking buzz. Starring Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.—son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic bumbling detective from the original trilogy—the film, directed by Akiva Schaffer of Lonely Island fame, promises to revive the zany spirit of the franchise while leaning into modern absurdity. Set for release on August 1, 2025, the teaser has fans and skeptics alike dissecting its humor, with one gag about Simpson stealing the show.
A Legacy Nod with a Twist
The trailer, unveiled by Paramount Pictures at 10:14 a.m. PDT, kicks off with Neeson in a jarring getup—strawberry-pink polka-dot briefs under a schoolgirl skirt—setting the tone for the film’s unhinged comedy. But it’s a scene in the Police Squad’s “Hall of Legends” that’s turning heads. As Drebin Jr. weeps over a plaque of his father (Nielsen), other cops honor their own dads—until one, played by Paul Walter Hauser as Captain Ed Hocken’s son, stares at a portrait of Simpson’s Detective Nordberg and shakes his head in dismay. The jab, a clear reference to Simpson’s infamous 1995 murder trial and acquittal, lands with dark humor, given his role in all three original films from 1988 to 1994.
Simpson, who died of cancer in April 2024 at 76, portrayed Nordberg as a hapless punching bag—a role that predated his legal saga and cemented his comedic legacy before it was overshadowed. The reboot’s gag sidesteps reverence, opting instead for a cheeky acknowledgment of his controversial past. “That O.J. joke wasn’t bad,” one X user posted, while another called it “absolutely hilarious,” reflecting a split between those sold on the bit and others wary of the film’s overall vibe.
Neeson Takes the Reins
Neeson, 72, steps into Nielsen’s shoes as a new Drebin, trading his Taken gravitas for deadpan lunacy. The trailer teases him infiltrating a crime scene in drag, battling thugs with a firehose, and facing off against a villainous Kevin Durand—all while sporting a “particular set of skills” riff that nods to his action-star persona. Pamela Anderson joins as a sultry accomplice, with Neeson praising her to PEOPLE as “terrific to work with” and ego-free. The cast, rounded out by CCH Pounder, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, and Danny Huston, aims to echo the original’s ensemble energy.
Schaffer, known for Hot Rod and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, directs from a script co-written with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The trio’s Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers success hints at their knack for spoofing legacy franchises, though some X posts—like one calling it “insanely unnecessary”—question if Naked Gun can recapture the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker (ZAZ) magic.
A Mixed Reception
The original Naked Gun trilogy, born from the short-lived 1982 Police Squad! series, thrived on rapid-fire sight gags and Nielsen’s straight-faced absurdity, with Simpson’s Nordberg as a standout foil. Critics wonder if Neeson’s reboot leans too hard into explicit violence over subtle parody, with one X user noting it lacks “enough sight gags” and ZAZ’s packed punchlines. Yet, the Simpson quip has won over skeptics, with Variety dubbing it a “special set of skills” in absurdist comedy.
Filming wrapped in June 2024 after years in development limbo—earlier iterations with Ed Helms fizzled—pushing the release from July 18 to August 1, 2025. Posts on X range from “Sold!” to “It doesn’t feel like a Naked Gun movie,” mirroring a broader debate about reviving a sacred spoof in a comedy landscape that’s shifted since the ‘90s.
A Risky Resurrection
Paramount bets big on Neeson’s star power and Schaffer’s irreverence, but the trailer’s O.J. jab—while a hit with many—underscores the tightrope this reboot walks: honoring a slapstick classic while poking at its own ghosts. As Nordberg’s onscreen son recoils, the film signals it won’t shy from the past—even if it risks alienating purists. Whether it’s a touchdown or a fumble, The Naked Gun is back, and its Simpson poke has already scored a laugh—or a groan—heard ‘round the internet.
