Seth MacFarlane and Lonely Island's Akiva Are Rebooting 'The Naked Gun' Starring Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson has a very particular set of skills. And Seth Macfarlane is about to put them to good use.

Deadline is reporting that Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer is set to direct a reboot of the Naked Gun franchise, with Neeson in talks to star. Macfarlane will produce. Details are secret for now, but rumor has it that Neeson could play the son of Detective Frank Drebin, the role made famous by the goofy antics of Leslie Nielsen. 

The comedy series has already come back to life multiple times. Originating as the critically applauded but ratings-challenged sitcom Police Squad!, Drebin and his police pals (including a clumsy O.J. Simpson) cleaned up at the comedy box office with three movie adaptations in the 1980s and 90s. 

Neeson may seem like an odd choice as the comedic lead, but no more than the stone-faced Nielsen must have seemed when he showed up in Airplane! And Neeson has an unlikely friendship with MacFarlane, showing up in cameos in Ted 2, The Orville, and Family Guy. Maybe it’s Seth’s Liam impression that sealed the deal. 

Neeson addressed the rumors back in July. “It’ll either ruin my career, whatever’s left of it,” said Neeson, “or I’ll find another little adventure, you know?”

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Top image: Paramount Pictures/StudioCanal