Action icon Liam Neeson (70) is apparently in talks for the role of Frank Drebin in a reboot of “The Naked Gun” (1988). That reports “The Hollywood Reporter”. According to this, Akiva Schaffer (44), a member of the comedy troupe The Lonely Island, is supposed to direct for Paramount. Neeson is said to be in early talks for the lead role.
The slapstick classic is about the adventures of police officer Frank Drebin, who was played by Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010) in the original from 1988 and two sequels. The strips are known for their gags, celebrity appearances and Nielsen’s physical comedy. Details about the plot of the reboot are not yet known.
The screenplay was written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who previously worked with Schaffer on the current Disney film Chip and Dale: The Knights of Justice (2022). Seth MacFarlane (48, “Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins (74) will appear as producers via Fuzzy Door. Schaffer will be executive producer, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Neeson and MacFarlane previously worked together in the comedy ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ (2014). In it, the action actor played the ruthless bandit Clinch Leatherwood, who makes life difficult for MacFarlane as sheep farmer Albert Stark. However, the role of the ice-cold gangster was closer to the usual roles that the 70-year-old was previously allowed to play. And so the skepticism of Nielsen fans should be correspondingly large as to whether Neeson is suitable for the job.
