The cast and creatives behind The Naked Gun wanted to bring back the energy of the Leslie Nielsen classic for a new generation. Directed by The Lonely Island‘s Akiva Schaffer and Executive Produced by Seth MacFarlane, The Naked Gun introduces Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank and the successor to his role as an officer in Police Squad. Played by Liam Neeson, Frank Jr. is a chip off the old block — quickly proving to be as silly, unpredictable, and chaotic as his father.
In a BTS promotional clip for the movie released exclusively on Screen Rant, Schaffer and MacFarlane reflect on the legacy of the original Naked Gun films and bringing that comedic sensibility to 2025. In the clip, Schaffer described Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson as the perfect stars to infuse the absurd broad comedy with the right amount of gravitas to seal the joke.
Liam is one of the few old school movie star leading men with gravitas. There was no second choice, because there’s no one out there like him… we had such a great cast. Pam is perfect, because she seems like someone they would have cast in the 90s. She embodies what the movie is trying to do.
What This Means For The Naked Gun
The Fans Are In Charge
Image via Paramount Pictures
What’s clear from the BTS clip for The Naked Gun is the pᴀssion that the creatives and cast have brought to the film. Seth MacFarlane has been trying to get the film made for years, with Liam Neeson confirming in 2021 that he’d been approached about the project. Neeson is gleeful in his brief snippet of the BTS clip, highlighting the fun it is to play in Naked Gun‘s sandbox.
That same reverence for the original is clear from Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Ed Hocken Jr. opposite of Frebin. There’s something to be said for a legacy sequel being made by people who clearly care for the source material, ensuring that there’s a certain amount of reverence paid to the previous films. However, MacFarlane’s insistence on the movie feeling “new” highlights the true test for The Naked Gun.
Our Takeaway From The Naked Gun’s BTS Video
A Fun Cast Seem To Be Having A Great Time, And That’s Really Encouraging
A spin-off of the TV series Police Squad!, The Naked Gun franchise had three films and plenty of jokes to its name. The trailer and BTS clips for The Naked Gun suggest the new film will try to match that legacy. This includes the rapid-fire punchlines of the previous movies, with a mix of broad physical comedy, absurdist action, and silly wordplay all featured in the teaser.
The real challenge is going to be making the movie feel modern in a way that feels consistent with the original. This is where elements like the over-the-top action (like a battle where Frank Jr. can be seen sliding under multiple men and punching them all in the groin) come into play. It’s exactly the kind of wacky touch that feels right at home with Schaffer and MacFarlane.
Schaffer’s comments about Neeson and Anderson are especially telling about The Naked Gun, because the clips of both characters in the preview (as well as other trailers) show them nailing the self-serious tone of the franchise. By getting the tone right but embracing their own personal comedic touches, The Naked Gun looks like a hilarious new chapter for Police Squad.
