Seth MacFarlane says Liam Neeson is the only actor who could replace Leslie Nielsen in ‘The Naked Gun’

‘The Naked Gun’ is back, and this time, it’s Liam Neeson leading the charge. The upcoming reboot/sequel, produced by Seth MacFarlane and directed by Akiva Schaffer, will premiere in U.S. theaters on August 1, 2025, with Neeson playing Frank Drebin Jr., son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, MacFarlane explained why Neeson was the only choice for the role.

“Liam Neeson is probably the only actor in the 21st century who can do what Leslie Nielsen did,” MacFarlane said. “There aren’t many actors like that left in Hollywood. The Zucker brothers always cast dramatic actors for comedy, and Liam has that seriousness in spades.”

A reboot that feels like a sequel

While the film is technically a reboot, MacFarlane admitted it felt more like a continuation of the original trilogy:

“We’re telling a new story, but it really felt, even to us, like a remake of the original. We couldn’t justify why we had to do this, except that it was just too fun not to.”

The film follows Drebin Jr. as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy, with Pamela Anderson co-starring as Beth, a femme fatale who pulls him into a murder investigation. The cast also includes Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, CCH Pounder, and Cody Rhodes.

Neeson’s take on comedy

Neeson, known for his dramatic and action-heavy roles, said he was drawn to the project not because he considers himself funny, but because of his love for the original films:

“I didn’t think I was funny, far from it. But I really enjoyed those Leslie Nielsen movies. When Seth pitched the idea, I thought maybe he saw something in me.”

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